Vol. 48 No. 12 November 2010 - Evangelical Mennonite Conference

Transcription

THE
MESSENGER
volume 48, number 12
November 2010
www.emconference.ca/messenger
Alabado
sea
Jesucristo!
¡ Praise Jesus Christ!
Reportaje de la Iglesia Ebenezer
Ebenezer church profile
Español (p. 11)
English (p. 14)
a publication of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference
editorials
Nine regions, one Church
I
n central interior B.C., the EMC
has pastors with connections to
Ohio and France; elsewhere we
have pastors with backgrounds in
New Brunswick.
In northern Alberta, southern
Alberta, and southern Ontario,
there is a focus on ministry to
people with DGR Mennonite
backgrounds.
In Calgary we have two
churches of wide-ranging
cultural backgrounds and two
focused on people of Hispanic
backgrounds from various
countries.
In Saskatchewan we have
churches in the south, centre, and
north. Our members there work
variously in farming, mining,
and logging and reflect a range of
cultural and church backgrounds.
There was a time when the
EMC was made up of five churches
in southern Manitoba, but the “old
grey mare, she ain’t what she used
to be.”
It is true that six of our EMC’s
nine regions include, at least in
part, congregations in Manitoba.
The time is long past when
Steinbach, Man., area churches
could claim to be the Conference.
The “Keystone” province is
where more than half of our
churches reside, including a majority of members.
The time, though, is long
past when Steinbach, Man., area
churches could claim to be the
Conference.
In Ontario we have seven
churches—one in the northwest
and six in the “golden horseshoe”
in the south.
Where do our members come
from? Many have descended from
those who emigrated from Russia
in 1874-75, others have returned
from Mexico and Paraguay,
Hispanic members come from
Latin America and Canada,
and other members from many
cultural groups.
In an age which values
individualism, it is easy to
highlight congregationalism and
find reasons not to connect with
other EMC churches.
However, if we isolate ourselves,
or over-simplify our increasingly
complex history, we short-change
both our congregation and the
conference of which it is a part.
Let’s keep in touch!
Terry M. Smith
A bridge, not a barrier
T
his issue contains a church
profile published first in
Spanish and then in English.
It is the first time it has happened,
but language shifts are not unusual
in the EMC.
In Europe and Russia there was
language movement amid Dutch,
High German, and Low German
(with some Russian thrown in).
Publishing Ebenezer’s profile in
Spanish honours the Spanishspeaking congregation that is
being highlighted.
2
THE MESSENGER | November 2010
In Canada, for decades the
EMC published a German language
magazine; later it contained an
English section.
For a time the EMC published
both German and English periodicals; then the German language
periodical ended.
Now The Messenger occasionally publishes articles in Spanish.
Publishing Ebenezer’s profile
in Spanish honours the Spanishspeaking congregation that is
being highlighted, and it reflects
changes happening within the
EMC.
In the past, the KG sometimes
used language as a barrier to
keep out “the world.” Language,
though, is better used as a bridge
to connect with others in ways that
honour Christ.
We might be surprised and
impressed by the range of languages spoken by EMC members.
While perhaps four languages are
used in worship services, many
more are used and treasured by
their speakers.
An ability to speak two languages (or three or four) is a fairly
common skill among EMCers. Let
us nurture that ability to build
bridges, not barriers, in our common devotion to Christ.
Terry M. Smith
contents
Features
Departments
8
2Editorials
The Lamb is Worthy to Take
the Book
3
– Dr. David W. Shenk
4Letters
11 Iglesia Cristiana Ebenezer:
Donde la Alabanza y la Hermandad de la Iglesia son vitales
31 Shoulder tapping
17
– Terry Smith y Gerald Reimer
14 Iglesia Cristiana Ebenezer:
Where Praise and Church
Family are Vital!
With our missionaries
17 Clothed and In Our Right
Minds
22 Paraguay: The New Morality or the
Old Immorality?
– Terry Smith and Gerald Reimer
– Matthew Reimer
Columns
5
EMC FAQ
Where does the money go?
– Rebecca Roman
6
Archives Alcove
7
Susanne K. Plett, a missions pioneer
– Terry M. Smith
Writings shared
Reviews: Sexuality: God’s Gift and
The Naked Anabaptist: The Bare
Essentials of a Radical Faith
23 Window on missions
32 In memory
33Calendar
34 Births and Weddings
20 Mexico: A trip of diversity and delight
21 The Philippines: 50th graduate from
Honest Hands
25
– Dr. Terry Hiebert
30Cartoon
Pontius’ Puddle
With our churches
24 Heartland Community Church:
Teaching VBS is Grand Rapids is
important!
25 Iglesia Cristiana Emmanuel: New
EMC church organized!/¡Una nueva
Iglesia EMC organizado!
26 Wymark EMC: Baptism at Wymark
News
29 MCC food account at lowest level
in years
30 Cruise ship passengers visit MEDA
project in Ukraine
34 Central Americans hold 35th
Anabaptist Consultation
26 Portage Evangelical Church: PEC
celebrates 50 years
27 Reserve Fellowship Chapel: Stan
Millar busy at Sioux Valley!
27 Kleefeld EMC: Flo Friesen honoured
28 Grace Community Church:
Emphasizing our missional nature
28
Fred Friesen, a pivotal
figure in EMC missions
– Lester Olfert
35 Stewardship today
Are they worth it?
– Kevin Davidson
36 Pictures of God
Justified
– Joanna Plett
3
THE
MESSENGER
letters
Consider The Cape
Town Commitment
EDITOR
Terry M. Smith
tsmith@emconf.ca
ASSISTANT
EDITOR
Rebecca Roman
rroman@emconf.ca
Submissions to The Messenger
should be sent to
messenger@emconf.ca
THE MESSENGER is the monthly publication
of the Evangelical Mennonite Conference.
It is available to the general public. Its
purpose is to inform concerning events and
activities in the denomination, instruct in
godliness and victorious living, inspire to
earnestly contend for the faith.
Letters, articles, photos and poems are
welcomed. Unpublished material is not
returned except by request.
Views and opinions of writers are their
own and do not necessarily represent the
position of the Conference or the editors.
Advertising and inserts should not be
considered to carry editorial endorsement.
THE MESSENGER is published by the EMC
Board of Church Ministries, 440 Main St,
Steinbach, Man.
Subscription rates:
1 year $24 ($30 U.S., $45 foreign)
2 years $44 ($55 U.S., $85 foreign)
3 years $65 ($82 U.S., $125 foreign)
Manitoba residents add 7% PST.
Subscriptions are voluntary and optional
to people within or outside of the EMC.
Subscriptions are purchased by the
Conference for members and adherents.
THE MESSENGER is a member of
Meetinghouse and Canadian Church Press.
Second-class postage paid at Steinbach,
Manitoba.
ISSN #0701-3299
Publications Mail Agreement #40017362
Registration #09914
We gratefully acknowledge the financial
support of the Government of Canada,
through the Canada Periodical Fund, for our
publishing activities.
Undelivered copies, change of address and
new subscriptions should be addressed to:
440 Main St, Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5
Phone: 204-326-6401
Fax: 204-326-1613
E-mail: messenger@emconf.ca
www.emconference.ca/messenger
Messenger Schedule:
No. 13 – December issue
(copy due November 19)
4
moderator
’s musings
by Ric
hard Kla
EMC Moder ssen,
ator
The EMC’s strategic planning [Ready for a
change? October] seems wise.
Study of The Cape Town Commitment
– A Call to Belief and Action may help. Part
1 is available at http://conversation.lausanne.org/en/conversations/detail/11544.
It’s a truly biblical (280-plus passages), loving and peaceful outline of
the Christian message for today’s world.
Produced from Oct. 17-25, 2010, in South
Africa by some 4,200 participants from
198 countries, it was the largest ever
global dialogue on the Christian gospel.
Recently the Emergent Village has
tried to reshape the Christian gospel to
be more “resonant” with our “postmodern world.” Their post-modernism
is largely absent from The Cape Town
Commitment’s focus on evangelism
in the biblical language of love, peace,
humility, integrity, simplicity and compassionate action for the poor, the oppressed
and creation. It lovingly warns against all
sorts of syncretism and idolatry.
“Post-modern evangelicals” seem to
be too conformed to post-modern philosophies recently fashionable in the arts,
literature, social sciences, and segments of
philosophy and the media (Romans 12:2).
Architects now view post-modernism
as a past fad. Many consider the “wholesale
change” promoted by the Emergent Village
as the construction of a new religion, not a
Christianity of any kind.
Ready for a
change?
W
e live in a
time when
it
appears we
nee
ready to cha d to be
nge just
about any
thing.
For years
we have bee
cruising alon
n
g as a con
ference, thin
king
main problem that our
s were how
become a
to
conference
that
would be
desirable
to
the
general pub
lic
to face a few and how
tough issu
brought on
es
by that sam
outreach.
e
It seems the
se days
there is a
changing
mood in
the church
scene. Chu
rches are
evaluating
and being
evaluated
many feel
and
that
needed. And a wholesale change
is
in some resp
good and
ects this is
necessary.
Are we, the
EMC, so out
with this
of touch
present pos
t-modern
generation
to the exte
nt that
a large-sc
ale re-vamp
ing is
not just an
option, but
a
necessity?
We should
self-evaluat not fear
ion. Our stan
dard is not
other chu
rches
but rather
what we
perceive,
through the
Holy
Spirit’s gui
dance and
the
Scriptures,
God is ask
ing of
us as a Con
ference.
Various mov
ements
have com
e
people, hou and gone—Jesus
se-churche
PHOTO: ISTOC
movement,
s, the seek
KPHOTO.CO
er
and now it
M
seems the
Emerg ing
Chu
It seems the
showing sign rch movement is
se days the
s of aging,
too.
re is a changi
Phyllis Tick
scene. Churc
le’s
ng
asse
mo
ssment of
the curren
hes are eva
od in the chu
t scene bein
luating and
rch
many feel tha
g on par wit
the Reform
being evalua
t a wholesal
h
ation may
ted and
prove to be
rather pre
e change is
mat
needed.
movements ure and inflated. The
se
hav
According
their fleeting e affected us, but
ly our Gen
has initiate
eral Board
lifespan sho
us war y of
d what is
uld make
she
call
find
rely
“strateg ic
ed a
ing too hea
s to be
plan
them or of
vily on
hostile, disp a “quarrelsome,
trying to
properly and ning” exercise. Don
utatious,
imitate the
closely.
e
wisely, it is
and deserve
infamous
m too
that should
something
group.”
dly
prove to be
These mov
In this she
cial. Yet in
very benefiements hav
been long
many of our
e generally
general tren is really following
on decons
are also the
minds the
a
d
truc
set
re
short on trul
by a host
tion and
niggling icy
like-minde
of similar
worry—wha
y lasting inn
fingers of
d
“Ch
In
rist
t if it blow
ovations.
our strategi
ians
arg ue tha
s up in our
face?
c plannin
t this exodus .” One could
be careful
g we need
is
Emerg ing
not to maj
to
The recent
Church mov what the
or on neg
criticisms,
ement has
been seek
ative
but to seek
ment of Ann public pronounceing to pre
to build on
our strengt
e Rice is per
vent with
wholesale
hs.
sign of the
their
haps a
attempts
times. Rice
at
The
re-i
the
re
nve
cert
Chu
, the form
atheist vam
nting
ainly is a
rch.
er
place for eva
tim
pire novelis
Such criticis
luation and e and a
Christ abo
t, turned
to
ms may cau
ut ten yea
because all
change, not
wonder if
rs ago
se us to
the past is
has announ
we,
wor thless,
but becaus
ced that she but now
so far off the the Church, are ind
e we want
Christ but
will follow
eed effe
right trac
to continu
reject the
ctively serv
k that the
is little we
e to
Church, whi
e the purpos
re
can
ch
in this new
es of God
than to disc , or should, do oth
post-mode
er
ard it all and
rn world.
star t fresh.
Messenger
48 11.ind
d 19
THE MES SENG
ER | Octo
ber 2010
19
10-10-12
12:00 PM
In John 17:15-17 Jesus prayed, “... not that
you take them out of the world but that
you protect them from the evil one. They
are not of the world, even as I am not of it.
Sanctify them by the truth; your word is
truth.”
In my view The Cape Town
Commitment heeds these concerns
much better than Emergent post-modern
evangelicals.
Blessings on the conference’s strategic
planning processes!
Al Hiebert
Steinbach, Man.
Has your church used
Follow Me?
View a sample chapter at
www.emconference.ca/CE-resources
To order copies ($2.50 each, plus
shipping) contact Rebecca Roman,
204-326-6401 or rroman@emconf.ca.
?
emc faq
by Rebecca Roman
Where does the money go?
Q.
A.
What happens to the money
that is given to the Conference?
Much money that is given
to the Conference goes to
the general budget. Individuals and
churches also give to special projects
that receive funding outside the
budget.
Of the monies received as donations in 2009, about one-third came
from individuals and two-thirds
from other charitable organizations
(such as EMC member churches).
The Conference’s work is our
collective efforts as members and
churches.
In 2009, a reported $3,367,155
was spent. Of this amount, $91,802
(under three per cent) went towards
administration/management and
fundraising. About $3.27 million was
spent towards Conference programs
and projects, and designated gifts
(for example, monies received for
other mission organizations).
In terms of spending based on
the general budget, money that
comes in is spent in a variety of ways.
Most of the funds that come in
are spent towards mission programs
(in Canada and elsewhere)—about
71 per cent of the total budget.
Member participation is
important in deciding how
money is spent, and in
providing necessary funds
to support these programs.
About 10 per cent goes toward
Christian education activities,
including publication of this magazine and support of youth and youth
workers, among others.
Support of church leaders—including such areas as the Leadership
Development Scholarship—encompasses about seven per cent of the
total budget.
The bulk of the remainder
of budget funding goes toward
Convention (event and travel),
administrative assistant salaries, and
facility expenses for the head office.
For a fuller report of budget
expenses, call or e-mail Ruth Anne
Peters to receive the proposed 2011
budget (204-326-6401, rapeters@
emconf.ca). Church delegates will
be voting on this budget at the
Conference Council meeting on
Despite communication efforts
from the national office, there can
be significant gaps in awareness
and understanding by local
churches, leaders, and members
of our wider conference vision and
efforts. A new series, EMC FAQ
(Frequently Asked Questions), is
an attempt to respond to this.
Some basic questions will be
answered, with further questions
welcomed.
November 27, 2010. If you have
questions or concerns about the
Conference, please let your church
delegate know or contact the EMC
office.
For detailed financial information on the 2009 budget year of the
Conference, much information can
be obtained through the Canada
Revenue Agency website by searching for Evangelical Mennonite
Conference in the charities listing.
Those who receive The Messenger
also receive yearly by mail a
brochure and letter outlining the
programs and financial needs of
the Conference. Because we are a
Conference, each member matters.
Your participation is important in
deciding how money is spent, and in
providing necessary funds to support
these programs.
Thanks to all members who
pray and financially support the
Conference!
If you have a question to submit for
this column, please send it to Rebecca
Roman at rroman@emconf.ca or call 204326-6401.
5
archives alcove
by Terry Smith
Susanne K. Plett, a missions pioneer
S
PHOTO: Priovidence college
usanne K. Plett (1911–1956) was
She served with NTM in Bolivia,
promise of support” (Barkman, 22).
the first Kleine Gemeinde (later South America, from May 1, 1945 to
She was supported by individuals
EMC) member to serve as a
December 31, 1949. She then served
and ministered to a tribe “along
foreign missionary and perhaps the
in western Brazil from December 1,
the Amazon river” (Menno Hamm,
first KG woman to attend a non1950 until her death on May 15, 1956
Come, See What GOD Has Done,
Mennonite Bible institute.
(Craig Crowe, NTMC).
2004, 37).
Susanne Plett, of what is now
“She had to stand firm against
In a July 1946 letter Susanne said,
Prairie Rose EMC, studied at
the barrage of criticism and head“We try, as much as possible, to form
Winnipeg Bible Institute (now
shaking,” says Sue Barkman (Everthem into independent, self-supportProvidence College) from 1940-43,
Widening Circles, 1978).
ing, self-propagating, indigenous
graduating with a diploma.
“We didn’t want any woman,
churches, according to the method
It was said, “Susanne accepted the especially young ones, out preaching. Paul used in his time.”
Lord as her personal Saviour in her
That was a man’s job. Women were
Her letter, in German, was
teens and immediately had a desire
supposed to stay home, not try to
published in the Christlicher
to serve her Master, yet in her own
do men’s work,” recalled one man
Familienfreund (Sept. 1, 1946), the KG’s
way.
(Barkman, 22).
German language periodical, with
“The Lord guided and directed
Susanne Plett left “without the
a positive note from the editor: “We
her to W.B.I. three years ago. Here
blessings of the community nor
wish you much faith, courage, and
she has enjoyed blessed fellowship
wisdom, sister, and pray for you. We
with the students and teachers
are glad that you wrote and ask you
Susanne Plett left “without the
but above all with the Lord. She
to write again” (Hamm, 37).
blessings of the community nor
is an active worker, willing to
Susanne Plett’s letters, and retake anything upon herself, even
ports
during furlough, encouraged
promise of support” (Barkman, 22).
cooking.
others to consider foreign service
“Her aim is found
(Hamm, 37).
in Phil. 3:14, to press
The EMC has
on to the mark of the
since had many of its
high calling, to serve
members serve as misher Lord and Master
sionaries, quite a few
wherever He leads
of them were single,
and her desire is only
and most of them
to please Him” (WBI
have been female. But
grad testimony, Sue
someone had to be first
Screpnek).
and Susanne K. Plett
She started a Sunday
was that person.
School in the Landmark,
Perhaps it is
Man., area and taught
ironic that the EMC’s
Daily Vacation Bible
conference council
School within the
recently approved a
province in summer
new mission field:
months.
Bolivia. It was also the
Susanne entered
first foreign field where
training in Chicago, Ill.,
a KG/EMC member
Faculty and graduates of 1943: (back) Mr. D. A. Barnes, Rev. K. M. Robins, Rev. J. Cunwith New Tribes Mission ningham, Rev. D. R. Aikenhead, (middle) Mrs. K. M. Robins, Mrs. Williams, Susanne
went 65 years ago.
Plett, Hannah Dyck, Gleetis Delgaty, Miss M. Taylor, Miss O. Mikkelson, (front) Grace
on February 1, 1944.
Hickey, Margaret Ferch, Rev. R. W. Affleck, Thelma Mork, Olive Norwood.
6
writings shared
Sexuality: God’s Gift, 2nd ed., edited by Anne Krabill
Hershberger (Herald Press, 2010). 275 pp. $16.99 USD. ISBN 9780-83619-514-9. Reviewed by Cyndy Warkentin, pastor, Saturday
Night Church, Landmark, Man.
“
D
o we really believe and
understand that sex is good
and that our sexuality is a
good gift from God?” (21). Affirming
that indeed it is forms the premise for
this bold and articulate treatment of
a subject that many Christians find
confusing and are still embarrassed to
speak about.
Often the mixed message has
been, “Sexuality is a dirty, disgusting thing, so you should save it for
someone you love” (83). This comes
as a result of the world’s warped, onedimensional approach to sexuality
and the Church’s inadequate attempt
to counteract it. Sexuality: God’s Gift
presents another perspective.
Each chapter, written
by various authors, brings
scriptural grounding,
educational background,
personal experience and a
thoughtful approach to all
of the specific topics covered.
Taking us through all the stages
of life from childhood to old age,
including areas such as singleness,
cross-gender friendship and losing
a spouse, we are taught, encouraged
and challenged to celebrate the gift
of our sexuality in healthy ways that
honour God and the people with
whom we relate.
I appreciated the well-researched
and documented information through
Taking us through
all the stages of
life, we are taught,
encouraged and
challenged to
celebrate the gift
of our sexuality in
healthy ways.
out the book and the extensive
resource lists in the last chapter.
The book challenged and expanded some of my own thinking
on God’s gift of sexuality, especially
the chapters on singleness, same-sex
orientation and the arts.
Experiencing the gift of sexuality as God intends far exceeds any
perspective the world offers. “Only
God’s design can bring us real joy,
true intimacy, and true sexual fulfillment” (254).
The Naked Anabaptist: The Bare Essentials of a Radical Faith, Stuart
Murray (Herald Press, 2010). 172 pp. $15.99. ISBN 978-0-83619-517-0.
Reviewed by David Thiessen, EMC conference pastor.
M
urray, in this book on the
Anabaptists, strips back
historical and cultural accretions accumulated over the centuries
and looks at what originally inspired
a group of European believers back
in the 1600s. Then he speaks to the
question of why that
original vision creates a
sense of homecoming for
people in today’s complex and violent world.
How would this
carefully articulated
and readable book be
most useful? It may be
particularly useful to two
groups of people.
First, it serves as an
excellent introduction
The book could facilitate that
elusive “homecoming” for both
groups. This was the experience of
to Anabaptism for people who do not
Simon Barrow of England.
have that background, but would like
Barrow says, ”The recovery of
to explore Anabaptist faith and life.
Anabaptist emphasis on discipleship,
Another group who could benefit
church as subversive and exemplary
from reading this spirited account
community, the biblical word oriented
by a non-Mennonite are jaded and
toward Jesus the living word, and
perhaps reluctant Mennonites who
peacemaking as integral to the gospel
are not very convinced or has given me fresh hope for a truly
even aware of their own
liberating, post-Christendom vision
faith history.
and practice of Christianity—something both committed
and open” (30).
A group who could benefit
In a concluding
from reading this account are
statement the writer says
that his interest is not in
jaded and perhaps reluctant
Anabaptism for its own
Mennonites who are not very
sake, “but in a tradition
that helps us become
convinced or even aware of
more faithful followers of
their own faith history.
Jesus” (172).
7
The
T
the
Lamb
iumph
LAMB
of the
Christ, His Church in Mission
is Worthy to
Take the Book!
Revelation 5
by Dr. David W. Shenk
PHOTO: istockphoto.com
8
M
y wife Grace and I have just been in
China and Indonesia for a month. The
pastoral prayer at Sunday worship in
a church in Indonesia was that God
would soften the hearts of their Muslim neighbours
so that they would refrain from bombing their
church if Pastor Jones in the USA went ahead with
his plans to have a ritual burning of the Qur’an.
In China we occasionally glanced at the closed
doors of the large upstairs room where we had
gathered for a seminar. We prayed that the police
would not enter those doors to arrest us and stop
the seminar. The suffering church was a theme
wherever we went.
That was also true of the Apostle John. He
was a very old man, when, under the powerful
inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he penned the book
of Revelation. He was alone and in detention on the
Island of Patmos, suffering for the sake of Christ, as
was true of other Christians.
Domitian was emperor and determined to
discourage the church’s growth through detentions
and occasional martyrdoms. That was why John
was on the Island of Patmos, arrested and detained
for his refusal to venerate Caesar as Lord.
Alone, he saw a door open into heaven
(Revelation 4:1). Peering, he saw visions of reality
that unlocked God’s grand plan for human history
and destiny. He saw God on his throne, with a
scroll in his hand.
This is the scroll (book) of the destiny of
history. The book is sealed with seven seals. Seven
means completion. This book is completely sealed.
It is written on the back and on the inside. The
back is what happened in the past, the inside is
what is going on now.
This book is the big picture of history; it is also
the destiny of each of us. Locked within the inner
soul are the secrets, the sin. The accounts of what
has happened are not flattering; read any history or
read any newspaper.
Who is Worthy?
So the hosts of heaven proclaim: who is worthy
to take the scroll? The one worthy must be the one
who can deal with our sin.
So the messengers from God commence an
exhaustive search. In fact, all humanity is caught
up in the search. They scour the heavens. That is
the regions of the gods and spirits and religions.
The Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Christians
and all religions claim the authority to take the
book; each is found utterly inadequate for none can
deal with the poison of human sinfulness.
The messengers search the earth. That is the
realm of the ideologies. Marxism and Capitalism
step forward each claiming the right to take the
book. Yet the peoples of the earth groan at the
inadequacies of these global ideologies to deal with
the human predicament.
So the search commences under the earth, in
the regions of the ancestral spirits. Even the ancestors cannot deal with sin; they are unworthy.
John began to weep. In fact, he wept for none
were worthy to take the book. And, indeed, all over
the world a great weeping commences as people
discern that all our religions and ideologies cannot
deal with the predicament of human sinfulness.
Then a messenger sent from God came to John
to announce, “Do not weep! There is good news!
One has been found worthy. He is the Lion of
Judah; he is the root of David” (Revelation 5:5). In
an instant John recognized that the One who is
worthy is Jesus.
“Do not weep! There is good news!
One has been found worthy. He is
the Lion of Judah; he is the root
of David.”
(Revelation 5:5)
The Lion of Judah
Jesus is the fulfillment of Jacob’s prophecy given
nearly twenty centuries earlier when his twelve
sons gathered around him to receive prophetic
blessings from their dying aged father. When Jacob
came to Judah, he exclaimed that Judah is a lion
and that a king will come from Judah who will rule
the nations forever (Genesis 49:9-10). Jesus was of
Judah’s line.
Jesus was also of David’s line. God had promised ten centuries earlier that a son born of David’s
line would rule forever (2 Samuel 7:16). However,
for nearly 400 years there had been no king on
David’s throne, for Israel had no king.
David’s line had become only a stump in the
ground. Yet Jesus had come from David’s line; he
was the root or shoot come from stump of David.
God planned from the world’s foundation for
the Saviour. The prophetic pronouncements were
clear; he would be a lion from Judah, a branch from
the stump of David’s line.
(continued p. 10)
9
The coming of Jesus was not an afterthought
in God’s mind. Through the centuries God was
preparing carefully for the grand surprise of the
Savior who would deal with our sinfulness and
bring history to a glorious finale.
Yet when John peered through his tears into
heaven, he did not see a lion or a shoot from a
stump, although these are powerful and helpful
metaphors of Jesus. Rather he saw a slain lamb
standing in centre of the throne
of God (Revelation 5:6). This
is totally astonishing!
The throne of God
is the power and
authority centre of the
universe. There is no
power greater than
the throne of God.
Neither is there any
authority greater
than that which
emanates from the
throne.
Yet John sees a slain
lamb who is alive standing
within the power and authority centre of the universe.
This lamb is Jesus crucified
and risen. John sees the
wounds of crucifixion upon
the body of Jesus. He is risen
and standing within the
throne of God.
Here we meet what Paul proclaims: Christ crucified—the power of God! (1 Corinthians 2:22-25).
The world considers the cross trivial foolishness.
Our Muslim friends strenuously deny the
cross for they exclaim that God is all powerful
and therefore Jesus could never suffer on a cross.
The essence of Buddhism is the quest to escape
suffering. Darwin’s theory of evolution insists that
the power centre of the universe is survival of the
fittest.
Western political philosophies insist that at the
end of the day, our democratic institutions must
be preserved with the instruments of violence. The
Western world fights wars to preserve our values.
All religions and ideologies are scandalized by the
cross.
Yet there he stands. The crucified and resurrected Jesus is in the centre of God’s throne. His
hands are outstretched, inviting us to forgiveness
and reconciliation with God and with one another.
God gives him the book!
Heaven explodes with joy!
All of heaven explodes in songs of joy. Jesus
is worthy to take the book because through his
crucifixion and resurrection he has redeemed us.
Through his blood we are forgiven. He is worthy for
only Jesus is able to create the church, a fellowship
of redeemed people from “every tribe and language
and people and nation (5:9-10).
And he forms the church into
a community of the Kingdom of
God who serve God and who
extend his reign throughout
the earth. That is what mission is all about—inviting
as many as possible into
the kingdom!
All of heaven and
all creation burst into
enormous crescendos
of joy and song as
they witness Jesus
receiving the book of
history in his hands.
The entire creation and
all heaven and earth rejoice
for Jesus deals with sin.
He forgives and he
transforms. He creates the
church! The church is not
a sideshow; it is at the very
centre of God’s grand plan for
history, for the earth and for
all creation.
Domitian was still Caesar in Rome, but as John
peered into heaven he saw ultimate reality. Jesus is
Lord, not Caesar. The empire was only a sideshow;
for it is the church that is at the centre of God’s
grand plan for history.
Jesus is worthy to
take the book because
through his crucifixion
and resurrection he has
redeemed us.
10
Dr. David W. Shenk was the EMC’s
convention speaker. He has a long
history of cross-cultural education.
Reviewers wanted
The Messenger seeks book reviewers, of various
backgrounds and interest, to review assigned
titles within 250 words and usually six weeks.
Payment for a review: you get to
keep the book. If interested,
contact Terry Smith:
tsmith@emconf.ca or 204326-6401.
fotos: terry m. smith
Iglesia Cristiana Ebenezer
Donde la Alabanza y la Hermandad de la Iglesia son vitales
¡C
por Terry Smith y Gerald Reimer
risto está alabado en
español en Brandon,
Manitoba!
¿Qué es lo que atrae a los Latinos a la “la
Ciudad del Trigo”? Es el trabajo obtenible en la
empresa Maple Leaf Foods.
Por las voces latinas alabanzas a Dios suenan
en una iglesia que antes estaba vacía. Pero hay uno
pizca de ironía: algunas de las voces tienen conexiones con una iglesia bautista lejana.
La Iglesia Cristiana Ebenezer se congrega en
una sala de comunidad alquilada que es localizada
en la Avenida Lorne 1037. La hacen propio tanto
que puedan en un lugar alquilado.
Los visitamos el día 19 de septiembre, 2010, y
hay letreros en español por todo el edificio.
El grupo de alabanza de siete miembros está ensayando. El pastor habla de un tiempo de oración.
La gente habla español, y las chicas charlan en
inglés.
Seis banderas están colgadas en la sala, representando los paises de la gente: Colombia, El
Salvador, Paraguay, Mexico, Honduras y el Canadá.
(continua p. 12)
11
El Servicio
El servicio empieza alrededor de 11:30 a.m.
El pastor Hernán Benítez Diaz empieza con una
oración apasionada. Unos oran y otros cantan.
Hay alabanza audible, danda palmadas durante
y después de la música. Luces pulsan durante un
canto.
Normalente las luces del sanctuario están bajas
pero las subieron para la fotógrafo. Cantan mucho.
Niños pasan al frente para orar antes de salir a
la escuela dominical. Un hombre se para y ora.
La ofrenda es levantada. Una mujer de la
congregación ora.
El pastor hizo anuncios, y Landis, su esposa,
añadió otra.
Gerald Reimer, el ministro de jóvenes de la
EMC (Conferencia Evangélica Menonita) es el
predicador invitado. Usó el español que aprendió
en sus estudios formales de español en USA y sus
tres años de ministerio juvenil en México.
Su mensaje, preparado y presentado en español
salió de Colosenses 1:9-14 titulado “Agradándole a
Dios.” El anima a la congregación a orar los unos
por los otros en cuanto a llevar fruto y crecer en
el conocimiento de Dios. Ese estilo de vida es una
respuesta apropiada a la redención y
perdón de pecados que tenemos en
Cristo Jesús.
Cuando Gerald no recuerda
¿Qué es lo que quiera que
la gente sepa de
Ebenezer? Quieren
que la iglesia sea una
familia, Ana Moreno
responde.
como decir “when we retire” en español, pide
ayuda, le ayudan y él sigue.
Cantan más y el servicio termina. La hora es
alrededor de 1:20 p.m. La gente hablan positivamente a Gerald acerca del mensaje.
Ana Moreno
El pastor Benítez Diaz nos invita a entrevistar a
un miembro de la iglesia, Ana Moreno. Ella consiente y nos dice que ha sido involucrada en la iglesia
por los ocho años que Ebenezer ha existido.
Ella ayuda con las ofrendas y visita familias, y
con la ayuda de otros distribuye comida y ropa.
12
¿Qué es lo que Ana quiera que la gente sepa de
Ebenezer? Quieren que la iglesia sea una familia,
responde.
Ana, de México, dice que en Brandon echó de
menos a su familia, oró a Dios, y él abrió sus ojos y
vió la iglesia como su familia.
La Pareja Pastoral
El pastor Hernán y Landis Benítez invitan al
predicador invitado y el escribo a comer y a una
entrevista.
Hernán, 45, fue instalado como pastor en
Ebenezer en septiembre, 2009. Nacido y criado en
Paraguay, su vida pasada incluye el ejército paraguayo y entrenamiento como orfebre.
Aceptó a Cristo en el año 1987, y luego estudió
en una escuela Bíblico en Paraguay. El primer
pastor de Hernán era Fred Buhler, un misionero de
la EMC.
Su esposa, Landis es de Blumenort, Man.
Estudió español en el Instituto Bíblico Rio Grande
antes de ir a Paraguay como obrera de corto plazo.
Ellos se conocieron y con tiempo se casaron. Su
español mejoró.
Hernán vino al Canada el áno 1990. Tienen dos
hijos ya adolescentes, una hija Mónica y un hijo
Giovanni. Dice Hernán que su hijo
lee el Guaraní, un idioma oficial
de Paraguay, mejor que él.
Landis trabaja como
asistente educacional
en una escuela local. La
mayoría son estudiantes
hispanos.
Del año 1997 hasta
2004 Hernán y Landis estaban involucrados en el
ministerio hispano en la
iglesia Braeside EMC. De
allí regresaron a Paraguay
y sirvieron con la Missión
EMC hasta 2008.
La Historia de la Iglesia
La obra en Brandon empezó en el año
2006 como una extensión de la Braeside EMC.
Actualmente hay aproximamente 5,000 hispanos
en Brandon. La población de la ciudad es aproximamente 43,000.
Hernán, entre otros, estuvo involucrado en
ayudar el comienzo de la obra. Su primer pastor
era Luis Antonio Pitta que vino de México y fue
discipulado por Hernán.
En noviembre, 2004, Ebenezer fue oficialmente
organizado como una congregación de la EMC, en
diciembre del mismo año el concilio de la conferencia aprovó afiliación con la EMC y en julio, 2005,
fue recibido como miembro de la EMC.
El año 2008 Antonio y su esposa Esther y su
familia mudaron a Calgary, AB, a plantar otra iglesia. La Iglesia Cristiana Emmanuel fue organizado
oficialmente el día 19 de septiembre, 2010.
La Estructura
La Iglesia Ebenezer tiene ansianos, deáconos, un ministro para
matrimonios, un grupo
de alabanza, ministros
para hombres y mujeres,
escuela dominical para
niños (para adultos
no hay), un estudio
bíblico semanal y culto
de oración cada martes.
Además, consideran empezar otro estudio bíblico,
ministerios en células, y
otra vez empezar con el
grupo de jóvenes.
La asistencia es entre
70 y 80 personas los domingos por la mañana. No es constante, depende
de los turnos de trabajo en Maple Leaf.
Hernán tiene horario de oficina de martes
hasta viernes, y el sabado por la mañana. La gente
pasan regularmente.
La iglesia tiene su junta de negocio anualmente.
Como los miembros son de diferentes antecedentes
hay opiniones variadas en cuanto a qué estructura
es necesario.
De la EMC la iglesia recibe un subsidio financiero parcial.
Los Fuertes
Dicen Hernán y Landis que la gente quieren
servir en la iglesia. Quieren estar involucrada en la
vida de la hermandad y el ministerio. Hay libertad
en el Espíritu a mover el cuerpo en alabanza que es
culturalmente apropiado.
Los de Brandon han visitado a los
Nicaragüenses que trabajan estacionalmente en
Dauphin. Su plan es visitarlos otra vez antes que
regresen a América Central.
Los Retos
Un punto importante es la vida familiar.
Muchas veces los hombres vienen sin sus familias
y luchan con soledad, la cual puede resultar en
tensiones matrimoniales.
Una paraja en Ebenenezer está involucrada en
aconsejar parejas casadas. La vida matrimonial es
considerado privado, no fácilmente admiten sus
problemas, y pagar por los consejos es una idea
extraña.
Una congregación que ha salido de deferentes
iglesias (Pentecostal, Bautista, Asamblea de Dios)
es algo positivo. Un reto relacionado, sin embargo,
es que Ebenezer no fácilmente puede reflejar los
estilos de cada iglesia representada. Hay que estar
dispuestos a aceptar otros estilos.
También, otros miembros son de
iglesias independientes, y ellos no
¿Qué quieren que las
otras iglesias sepan de
Ebenezer? “La iglesia
es interdominacional,”
contestó el Pastor
Benítez Diaz.
entienden bien el concepto de una conferencia.
Otro asunto de resolver es el futuro local de
reunirse. La iglesia que alquilan es de venta. Su
contrato de arrendamiento vence en marzo, 2011.
La renta que pagan parece alta y es difícil calentar
el edificio.
Aunque apreciando los donativos de la congregación, Hernán y Landis ven la necesidad de
seguir educando acerca de deizmar.
La EMC
¿Qué quieren que las otras iglesias sepan
de Ebenezer? “La iglesia es interdominacional,”
contestó el Pastor Benítez Diaz. Algunos miembros
mandan dinero a su iglesia y familias en su paíz
natal. La palabra “Mennonita” es confuso para
ellos.
Nos sorprendimos cuando nos dimos cuenta
que la pareja pastoral son los únicos miembros
que reciben “The Messenger” cuando Gerald lo
preguntó antes de predicar. La pareja pastoral y los
editores están tratando de correjir esto.
Hernán aprecia como la EMC sigue ministrando entre otras culturas aquí en Canadá.
Como el Pastor Benítez Diaz mencionó, la
EMC ya no es solamente una conferencia de una
sola cultura. Somos de una gran variedad de
antecedentes.
¿Cómo responderemos? ¡TODO LA GLORIA A
CRISTO!
Trasladado por Cathy Thiessen.
13
Iglesia Cristiana Ebenezer
Where Praise and Church
Family are Vital!
C
hrist is being praised
in Spanish in Brandon,
Manitoba!
What is drawing Latino people to “the Wheat
City”? It is the work available at the Maple Leaf
Foods hog processing plant.
Because of Latino voices, God’s praise again
rings in an otherwise empty Baptist church
building. Even there is a tinge of irony: some of the
voices are connected with a Baptist congregation
far away.
Iglesia Cristiana Ebenezer (Ebenezer Christian
Church) meets in a rented fellowship hall located at
1037 Lorne Avenue. In doing so, they are making it
their own, or as much as
they can in rented space.
When we visit on
September 19, 2010, there
are signs in Spanish
throughout the building.
The seven-member
worship team is practicing. The pastor talks
about a time of prayer.
People speak in Spanish,
while teenaged girls chat
Gerald D. Reimer
in English at the back.
Six flags line the fellowship hall, representing the countries from where congregants
come: Colombia, El Salvador, Paraguay, Mexico,
Honduras, and Canada.
The Service
The service begins about 11:30 a.m.
Pastor Hernán Benítez Diaz leads in a passionate prayer. People pray as songs are sung.
14
There is audible
praise, clapping in
praise during and
after music. Stage
lights pulsate during
one song.
The lights in the
sanctuary are normally dimmed, but are turned on as a concession
made for the photographer. There is much singing.
Children come forward for prayer before leaving
for Sunday School. A man stands from within the
congregation and prays.
The offering is collected. A woman from within
the congregation stands to pray.
The pastor makes announcements and Landis,
his wife, adds one.
Gerald D. Reimer, our EM Conference youth
minister, is the guest preacher. He draws upon his
background of formal Spanish study in the U.S.
and three years of youth ministry in Mexico.
His message, both prepared and delivered
in Spanish, comes out of Colossians 1:9–14 and
entitled “Agradándole a Dios” (A Life Pleasing to
God).
He challenges the congregation to pray for one
another in regards to bearing fruit and growing in
the knowledge of God. This lifestyle is an appropriate response to the redemption and forgiveness of
sins we have in Christ Jesus.
When Gerald momentarily forgets what is
Spanish for “when we retire,” he asks for help from
the congregation, help is given, and he carries on.
photos: terry m. smith
by Terry Smith and Gerald Reimer
There is more singing, and
then the service is over. It is
perhaps 1:20 p.m. People speak
positively to Gerald about his
message.
What does Anna
Moreno want
people to know
about Ebenezer?
They want this
church to be a
family, she says.
Anna Moreno
Pastor Benítez Diaz invites us
to interview a church member,
Anna Moreno. She consents and
tells us that she has been involved
for the eight years that Ebenezer
has existed.
She helps with offerings and
unofficially visits families, distributing food and clothing with the help of others.
What does Anna want people to know about
Ebenezer? They want this church to be a family,
she says.
Anna, from Mexico, says she was lonely without
family in Brandon and prayed to God, who opened
her eyes to see the church as her family.
The Pastoral Couple
Pastor Hernán and Landis invite the guest
speaker and the scribe to their home for lunch and
an interview.
Hernán, 45, was installed as Ebenezer’s pastor
in September 2009. Born and raised in Paraguay,
he has a background in the Paraguayan army and
in training as a
goldsmith.
In 1987 he
became a Christian,
and then studied
at Bible school in
Paraguay. EMC missionary Fred Buhler
was Hernán’s first
pastor.
His wife Landis,
from the Blumenort,
Man., area, studied
Spanish at Rio
Pastor Hernán Benítez Diaz
Grande Bible
Institute before going to Paraguay as an EMC
short-term worker. They met and eventually married. Her Spanish improved.
Hernán came to Canada in 1990. He and Landis
have two teenagers, a daughter Monica and a son
Giovanni. Giovanni, says Hernán, is better than
he at reading Guaraní, an official language in
Paraguay.
Landis works as an educational assistant in a
local school, mostly with Hispanic
students.
From 1997 to 2004 Hernán
and Landis were involved in the
Spanish ministry that is part of
Braeside EMC. Then in 2004 to
2008 they served in Paraguay
under the EMC Board of Missions.
Church History
The congregation in Brandon
dates back to 2002, when the work
started as an extension of Braeside
EMC.
Currently there are about 5,000
Hispanic people in Brandon, Hernán said. The city
has a population of about 43,000.
Hernán, among others, was involved in assisting the start of the Brandon work. The group’s first
pastor was Luis Antonio Pitta, who himself came
from Mexico to work and was discipled by Hernán.
In November 2004 Ebenezer was officially
organized as an EMC
congregation, in
December 2004 it was
approved for EMC affiliation by conference
council, and in July
2005 it was received
into EMC membership.
In 2008 Antonio,
his wife Esther, and
In November 2004 Ebenezer was officially
organized as an EMC congregation./En
family moved to
noviembre, 2004, Ebenezer fue oficialmente
Calgary, Alta., to plant
organizado como una congreción de la EMC.
another EMC church;
the congregation, Iglesia Cristiana Emmanuel, was
being organized officially on this same Sunday.
Structure
Ebenezer has elders, deacons, a marriage ministry, a worship team, men’s and women’s ministries,
Sunday School for children (none for adults), a
weekly Bible study, and a Tuesday prayer meeting.
Another Bible study, cell ministry, and restarting
the youth group are being considered.
The attendance is 70 to 80 on a Sunday morning, which changes partly based on the shift work
at Maple Leaf.
Hernán keeps regular office hours on Tuesday
to Friday and on Saturday morning. People drop by
regularly.
For business the congregation meets yearly.
With members coming from various church
(continued p. 16)
15
backgrounds, there are assorted views on what
structure is necessary.
The congregation is under partial, declining
financial subsidy by the EMC.
As well, some of Ebenezer’s members come
from independent churches; the concept of a
conference is not well understood.
A matter to resolve is the future location of
the congregation’s meeting place. The
Baptist church where they meet is for
sale, Ebenezer’s lease is up in March 2011,
the rent seems high, and the building is
difficult to heat.
While appreciative of the congregation’s giving, Hernán and Landis see a
need to continue to educate about tithing.
People want to serve in the church, pastoral couple Hernán and Landis Benítez say.
La gente quiren servir en la iglesia, dicen los pastores Hernán y Landis Benítez.
Strengths
People want to serve in the
church, Hernán and Landis say.
They want to be involved in
church life and ministry. There is
freedom in the Spirit to move the
body in worship as is culturally
fitting.
People in Brandon have visited
once with Nicaraguans working
seasonally in Dauphin. They
want to see them again before the
Nicaraguans return to Central
America.
A challenge is
that Ebenezer
cannot simply
reflect what a
particular church
looks like in
another country.
Challenges
An important issue is family life. Men often
come without their families and struggle with
loneliness, which can lead to marital tension.
One couple in Ebenezer is involved in counseling married couples. Married life is considered
private, problems are not openly admitted, and
paying for counseling is a strange idea.
Having people of different churches
(Pentecostal, Baptist, Assembly of God) is positive. A related challenge, though, is that Ebenezer
cannot simply reflect what a particular church
looks like in another country. There has to be an
acceptance of other styles.
16
Wider EMC
What do they want the wider EMC
to know about Ebenezer? The church
is “interdenominational,” said Pastor
Benítez Diaz. Some members send money
back to support their home churches as
well as their families. It is unclear what
Mennonite means to people.
The pastoral couple are the only
members receiving The Messenger, to our
surprise when Gerald asked the
question before preaching. The
pastoral couple and editors are
working to correct this.
Hernán appreciates how the
EMC continues to “care about”
doing ministry “with other
cultures here in Canada.”
As Pastor Benítez Diaz touches
on, the EMC is no longer made up
of people from one culture. We
gather from an increasingly wide
range of backgrounds.
How shall we respond to this?
¡Toda la gloria a Cristo! All the
glory to Christ!
Rest and Renewal
EMC Ministerial Retreat
November 27–29, 2010
Wilderness Edge, Pinawa, Man.
for all current and former pastors, associates,
missionaries, elders, deacons, and spouses
Cost: $170; $75 deposit with registration
Contact: Ward Parkinson
wparkinson@emconf.ca or 204-326-6401
Clothed
PHOTO: designpics.com
and In Our
Right Minds
by Dr. Terry Hiebert
All movements tend to become institutionalized
in time, and Anabaptism is no exception. The
vibrant and radical missionary movement of
the first generation gradually morphed into the
settled denominational life of later generations.
Apostles and prophets gave way to bishops
and pastors. The commitment to pacifism
degenerated into passivity. The passion to
baptize converts and plant new churches faded.
Exciting debates about the meaning of Scripture
were superceded by settled and unquestionable
interpretations.
– Stuart Murray
Our interest is not in Anabaptism for its own
sake, but in a tradition that helps us become
more faithful followers of Jesus.
– Stuart Murray
Mennonite Clothes
In Grade 7 my world expanded when I took the
school bus to town for the first time. The world
of my little country school with 20 kids from
German Mennonite backgrounds was dwarfed by
the hundreds of students at Morden Junior High
in southern Manitoba.
My feelings grew uneasy that first day in realizing that my peers were not wearing home-made
clothes or Dash runners. My parents, wanting
their oldest son to fit in, ordered Lee jeans and
cowboy boots from the Sears catalogue. Not the
snoot boots I had hoped for, but close enough.
The fall of 1970 was my taste of being the
immigrant. Soon I learned that Low German was
not cool and that milkshakes, burgers, and fries
were the new Mennonite foods. It would take five
years before my insecure Mennonite faith would
readjust to the new normal.
By Their Clothes You will Know Them
British writer Derek Tidball uses studies of
immigrants to understand the changes facing
evangelicals in his country. His descriptions
resemble the German Mennonite immigrant
experience and the generations following.
(continued p. 18)
17
First generation immigrants carry the language,
customs, values, and faith of the home country.
They wear the clothes of the old country, practice
the old customs, and make reluctant changes to
the new ways but just enough to get by.
Second generation children of immigrants overcome cultural barriers by rejecting or downplaying
the language and culture of the old country. They
seek to fit in by wearing the new clothes, but traces
of their past remain. Still, a number of second generation immigrants resist the pressure to blend in.
Third generation grandchildren have mostly
overcome the awkwardness of the new culture,
but search through their past to discover what
was important to their grandparents. They are the
antique collectors who make the past a hobby.
They wear the clothes of their peers and
sometimes put on their grandparents clothing
for folk celebrations. Most have no connection to
the old country. For many, their heritage must be
overcome so they can move ahead.
New Clothes or Naked Anabaptists
But just as German Mennonites in North
American are trading their coveralls and long
dresses for the latest fashions, along comes Stuart
Murray and The Anabaptist Network inviting
people to follow what he calls the bare essentials of
radical faith in Jesus.
Murray believes that truths found in the
Anabaptist faith will bring new life to churches
that are drifting from the centre of communities
to the margins, from majority to minority, from
settlers to sojourners, from privilege to option,
from control to witness.
What are these Anabaptist truths or core
convictions?
1. Following Jesus and worshipping him.
2. Reading the Bible with a Jesus-centred
approach.
3. Rejecting standard beliefs that church and
state are closely tied.
4. Challenging status and wealth to explore
ways of being good news to the poor.
5. Belonging to churches as communities of
discipleship and mission.
6. Finding ways of living simply, sharing
generously, caring for creation, and working for justice.
7. Believing that peace is at the heart of the
gospel (45–46, my paraphrase).
This new and growing Christian movement in
the UK is interested in what we believe, but without the German Mennonite clothing or culture.
Murray writes, “Our interest is not in Anabaptism
for its own sake, but in a tradition that helps us
become more faithful followers of Jesus” (172).
Mennonites with Evangelical Clothes
Once babies are born parents soon give them
clothes. And not long after, children will disagree with parents
on what to wear. That’s because
Clothing speaks
clothes do much more than cover
bodies.
about whom we
Clothing speaks about whom
value, how high we
we value, how high we rise in our
group, how much money we have,
rise in our group,
and most of all, where we belong.
how much money
Was it any surprise that thousands
of North American German
we have, and most
Mennonites in the 1930s to 50s
of all, where we
discovered evangelical clothes?
Our German ancestors were
belong.
finding ways to connect with the
English world.
Revival meetings and Bible
conferences brought German Mennonites into contact with English-speaking believers who accepted
18
biblical authority and preached a clear gospel of
salvation by faith in Jesus Christ.
German Mennonites and evangelical believers
had much, but not all, in common. And German
Mennonites were inspired by bold evangelical
services led by preachers calling for a personal
relationship with Jesus.
Some German Mennonites traded the German
language, private schools, and pacifism for a
personal experience of salvation in Jesus that had
gone missing in their lives. John 3:16 replaced 1
Corinthians 3:11 as the theme verse for evangelical
Mennonites.
context, so too are many of us trying on new
clothes to (hopefully) become more faithful followers of Jesus.
Clothed and In Our Right Minds
In Luke 8, Jesus and his disciples travel to a
foreign land and return home. Their story provides
some clues for changing times.
Episode 1: Jesus and the disciples are crossing
the Sea of Galilee. While the disciples might prefer
staying home, Jesus calls them to “go over to the
other side of the lake.” When the disciples fear
drowning, Jesus calms the storm. Then he asks,
“Where is your faith?”
The Mennonites’ New Clothes…Again
Episode 2: Jesus and the disciples face their
Today, evangelical Mennonites are shopping for
fears—a naked, demonized man terrorizing his
new clothes—again.
own people. Once healed, the man becomes fully
Generational change. In some churches, a fourth
clothed and in his right mind and ready for misgeneration has appeared. They consion. Jesus calls him to “return
sider their Mennonite-Anabaptist
home and tell how much God has
story as possibly interesting but
done for you.”
Today, evangelical
mostly unimportant for life today.
Episode 3: When Jesus returns
They are North Americans with
home
the ruler of the synagogue
Mennonites are
many faith and life options without
asks Jesus to heal his daughter. On
shopping for new
many of the traditional boundaries.
the way, a sick woman touches the
Cultural change. Cultural, ecoJesus’ cloak and finds healing. Jesus
clothes—again.
nomic, religious, and technological
replies, “Daughter, your faith has
changes during the past generation
healed you. Go in peace.”
have been rapid. And just when
Right after these events, Jesus
Mennonites began to feel comfortable about
sends out the twelve, giving instructions for the
becoming a part of the evangelical mainstream,
journey. Evidently witnesses for Jesus require the
the church in North America is moving out of the
proper clothing.
mainstream to the margins of our society.
Stuart Murray claims that Anabaptism needs a
What are the possibilities as the fourth generarenewal among many North American Mennonites.
tion searches for renewal in our changing world?
He is also right that, properly speaking, there
• Return to Anabaptist teachings on Jesus,
is no such thing as a naked Anabaptist (43–44).
discipleship, and peace?
Convictions are always clothed in traditions.
• Accept the evangelical gospel as the norm
Like the disciples it is time to ask once again,
for Christian living?
“Who is this Jesus?” Then begin to witness in cloth• Join the Emergent movement to focus on
ing adapted to our culture and with right minds
Jesus, relevance, and social justice?
renewed by the Jesus we are getting to know…
• Follow the new Reformed movement in
again.
returning to the glory of God and personal
holiness?
Resources
• Experience the charismatic movement
Murray, Stuart. The Naked Anabaptist: The Bare
with Holy Spirit gifts including prophecies
Essentials of Radical Faith. Scottdale: Herald, 2010.
and healing?
The Anabaptist Network,
• Attend Mainline/Catholic churches for
www.anabaptistnetwork.com
their liturgical worship and historical
roots?
Dr. Terry Hiebert is the Academic
• Become non-religious to gain freedom and
Dean and teaches theology/
personal fulfillment without the church?
general studies at Steinbach Bible
Just like Stuart Murray is becoming Anabaptist
College.
to inspire his faith in a post-Christian British
19
with our missionaries
A trip of diversity and delight
MExico
On July 21, six people left the
Winnipeg airport, headed for Texas
to meet three team members from
Belize. Later, in a van, we headed to
the EMC guesthouse for orientation.
Gerald Reimer did a great job preparing us for Project Macedonia: Mexico.
We went into Mexico on July 24,
arriving in Los Jagueyes. We met
Pastor Norman Loewen at Hillside
church. The colony was having a
fundraiser supper for Haiti.
Sunday morning we presented in
Hillside, stayed for potluck, volleyball, visiting; team members joined
others in mini golfing.
Monday morning we left for
PHOTOs courtesy michelle peters
Forty-eight children accepted
Jesus. Hallelujah! We pray
that these children will make a
difference in their community.
Kristen and Michelle with their host family.
20
Santo Tomas, enjoying the scenery. Our
excitement faded when
we found six children,
not the expected 30.
This was hard on some
members, but with
sharing, praying, and
reading the Word, we
were encouraged.
We cleaned, painted
bathrooms, and dug a
trench. The team did
crafts with children
an hour each day. We
joined the evening services. Friday evening
we presented at the
church in town. We left The Project Madedonia: Mexico team: Geoff Klassen (EMMC),
Michelle Peters (EMC), Earl Dyck (EMMC), Rebekah Sawatzky (EMC),
camp in better spirits.
Diany Dyck (EMMC), Kristen Harder (EMC), with leaders Myrna and
On Saturday, we
Jake Bartsch (top left).
headed to Cuauhtemoc
where we went to a wedding. We
in Soto Maynes. We spent the
brought supper to LeRoy and Faith
week helping with VBS. Some team
Siemens. We joined Siemens in
members got sick.
Anahuac church on Sunday morning,
We ministered alongside the
where we brought a presentation and pastoral couple to 150 kids in four
were invited to a disco.
villages. It was hot and children sat
Leaving Anahuac, we passed by
on the floor. One day Claudia, the
Steinreich Bible School, stopped in
pastor’s wife, asked the 48 children
Los Jagueyes for supper, and arrived
if anyone wanted to accept Jesus. A
few hands went up. She asked two
more times and more hands went
up. Forty-eight children accepted
Jesus. Hallelujah! We pray that these
children will make a difference in
their community.
We gave the pastoral couple a
table and chairs, which were greatly
needed. The team enjoyed this.
Our week was filled with adventure, work, ministering, enjoying
delicious food, adjustments and
uniting. Four churches were invited
to a VBS closing program at Soto
Maynes church on Friday. The team
presented skits, a meditation, a
children’s story, and songs. Myrna
had chocolate cake for everyone.
(continued p. 21)
(continued from p. 20)
On Saturday morning we headed
west to Basaseachic Falls, the second
highest waterfall in Mexico. We were
amazed by God’s creation. Tired,
what would we have for supper?
We headed back to Cuauhtemoc,
stopped for devotions, and treated
ourselves to pizza.
We left the next day for Fuente
de Vida (Fountain of Life) Church
in Chihuahua City. For two days we
slept, ate, and painted in the church
building. The rooftop internet
service was well used! Dallas and
Tara Wiebe from Delicias visited us.
On Tuesday evening we were
back in El Paso. We debriefed,
shopped, and visited a Holocaust
museum. Sadly, we said goodbye to
each other.
Thank you to everyone who
prayed. We felt God’s presence and
protection during our trip.
Bless the Lord for his promise
in Habakkuk 2:14: “The earth will
be filled with the knowledge of the
glory of the Lord as the waters cover
the sea.”
Jake and Myrna Bartsch
PHOTO courtesy diany dyck
Jake and Myrna Bartsch (EFC
Steinbach) were team leaders for
Project Macedonia: Mexico.
Diany Dyck with Hortencia from Oscar Soto Maynez.
50th graduate
from Honest
Hands
the philippines
How does it feel to graduate if you
have never finished anything before? For our students at Honest
Hands receiving their graduation
certificate is a huge deal, much
bigger than we might expect.
Leaving behind a life of
Lisa and Carl Loewen (Pleasant Valley)
messing around on the street to
serve with ACTION International.
follow Jesus, and then completing
an intensive discipleship program
is an amazing accomplishment for
Early one morning we loaded up
them. On March 25 we held our Batch tools, supplies and gear into our min7 graduation, and celebrated our 50th
istry van and roared off to Antipollo
graduate.
for three days of mission and service.
Thanks so much for your part in all We stayed at Children’s Garden, one
of this. Your prayers and gifts result in
of our partner agencies that has sent
a fun celebration day like this. I wish
us students over the past few years.
you could have celebrated with us.
It was good to accompany
th
Igor was our 50 grad. He is on
Children’s Garden staff on their reguthe worship team in his home church
lar outreach to street people living
in Manila, and was studying hard as
under a bridge in rough conditions.
a new student in the Working Hands
One of our students shared with me
automotive mechanics program.
that less than a year ago he was still
Unfortunately, he was not able
living under that exact bridge. It is
to handle the level of math skills
great to see huge changes in his life.
required, so he is back home again in
ACTION missionary Mavis Orton
Manila. Pray that he would find work
runs Shalom Birthing Clinic in the
to help his family and continue to
same area and we helped out with
serve in his church.
their clinic construction project
Two of the grads pictured are still
for a few days as well. The existing
continuing on in the Working Hands
clinic has been run out of her small
program in the automotive and wood
home for many years, and they are in
tech programs.
desperate need of more space.
Before graduation, though,
We shoveled dirt, cleaned up
February is always an intense month
junk, and helped build a temporary
at Honest Hands. Staff and students
fence around the new clinic. Pray for
are aware that graduation is rapidly
the clinic as they offer an important
approaching, and it is a good time to
service to pregnant moms from
go out and serve together on a missquatter communities.
sion trip—putting into practice what
Carl Loewen
we have been teaching.
21
The New Morality
or the Old
Immorality?
paraguay
Voices speak with increasing volume.
The businessman says: “We all have
women on the side. What the eye
can’t see, the heart can’t feel. That’s
how we are. I don’t believe it’s so bad.”
The student says: “Why do you
tell me about virginity? We have
sexual freedom. We do what we both
want. It’s none of your business. After
all, you need some experience before
getting married.”
The philosopher says: “The old
morality norms are a product of religion that has enslaved people. We are
advancing to a better world. We don’t
need religion or sexual restrictions.”
These are the deceiving voices
of the new morality. These are the
norms that seek to govern the present
generation.
You might hear another voice (if
you want to). It’s the voice of God. He
is a holy God who has never known
defeat, and He has not changed His
holy norms for sexual conduct.
His voice in the Scriptures says
that living outside of the parameters
that God has established brings
consequences, and HIV/AIDS is one
of those. So Jesus enters into our
Dave and Judy Schmidt (Rosenort
EMC) are second-generation crosscultural workers in Paraguay.
22
crisis not to condemn, but to speak
God’s word to us—words of love for
the unloved, words of forgiveness for
the condemned, words of restoration
for the hopeless. Are you listening? It
is truly beautiful!
This is God’s message: “The new
morality is none other than the
old immorality that I have always
abhorred. It is sin and it results in
death.”
What God says is true. The rapid
advance of HIV/AIDS is the result of
living in a world that has turned its
back on God. Millions are living with
a disease that has no cure and can
lead to incredible suffering.
In our world today, every
20 seconds of every minute
another person is infected
with the HIV/AIDS virus.
In our world today, every 20
seconds of every minute another
person is infected with the HIV/AIDS
virus. Millions have died and there is
no known cure.
At the Alto Refugio HIV/AIDS
ministry in Paraguay, we take a firm
stand on abstinence before marriage, and faithfulness in marriage.
Realizing that this is considered
impossible in an increasingly promiscuous society, we remain committed
to giving a clear message, because we
know that it is the only way that we
will successfully combat HIV/AIDS.
Others say condoms will help us
solve the problem, but the results
are more promiscuity and more HIV/
AIDS (besides many other diseases
and destroyed lives). Condom distribution has never resulted in a reduction of HIV/AIDS, and yet it continues
to be promoted as the solution to the
HIV/AIDS problem.
On the other hand, where
sexual purity is promoted as the only
prevention that is 100 per cent secure,
there has been a dramatic reduction
of the disease. The solution to the
HIV/AIDS problem is in our hands.
When will we take it seriously and
put an end to this on-going tragedy?
Alto Refugio (High Refuge) is
currently involved in an intense
nation-wide (Paraguay) campaign to
promote sexual purity—abstinence
and faithfulness. We are challenging
one generation to be willing to pay the
price needed to put an end to HIV/
AIDS in Paraguay (and the world).
This campaign will continue until
December 4 when there will be a closing event in conjunction with the Jaci
Velasquez concert here in Asuncion.
For those who wish to contribute,
this project has been approved by the
EMC Board of Missions.
Dave and Judy Schmidt
Guadalajara, Mexico
Prayer Team
Dates: February 8–14, 2011
Team Size: six to seven people
Team Leader: Flo Friesen
Prayer is vital as the EMC begins
ministry in Guadalajara. We encourage each of you to pray in your
homes for this city and for John and
Connie Reimer, who are leading the
Guadalajara ministry.
A Prayer Team will be visiting
strategic locations in Guadalajara,
praying specifically for the people of
this city. If you have a burden to be
part of a prayer team, we ask that
you consider this self-supporting
opportunity.
For more information, contact
Ken Zacharias, EMC Foreign
Secretary, kzacharias@emconf.ca or
204-326-6401.
window on missions
by Lester Olfert
Fred Friesen, a pivotal figure in EMC missions
23
PHOTO: emc archives
F
red Friesen was a friend, menand physical needs—as shown in
(Didsbury) and Rocky Mountain
tor and co-worker, a faithful,
efforts to rebuild people’s lives after
College (Calgary) and served as a
obedient, inspiring and humble the 1972 earthquake.
minister within the Evangelical
servant of God—and a pivotal figure
Fred emphasized unity. Open
Missionary Church of Canada. He
in EMC missions.
dialogue at staff meetings and good
valued his connections with the EMC.
Fred and Doris Friesen were
communication were important.
After retirement, he mentored
pioneer church-planting EMC
developing church leaders
missionaries in Nicaragua,
through the distance educaThe foundation which Fred and
Central America. They artion of Prairie Bible College.
rived in Managua just before
We were glad that his gifts and
Doris Friesen laid resulted in a
Christmas 1966.
passion could shape students
strong national church known as the
They drove their loaded
in wider circles.
truck, with their daughters
During Fred’s illness there
Fraternity of Evangelical Mennonite
Kathy and Patricia, from
were many e-mails from
Churches of Nicaragua.
Canada to Nicaragua. Trace
Nicaragua—and Nicaraguan
your finger on a map to sense
believers now living in Mexico,
what a difficult trip that was!
Fred was responsible for strategic the U.S. and Canada—assuring the
How do you church plant in
directions: establishing and organiz- family of their prayers.
an unknown city? Fred and Doris
ing a registered national church,
We grieve the loss of a dear
prayed and talked to missionbeginning church planting in an
brother in the Lord, but rejoice that
aries and national leaders. God
urban centre and then reaching into
Fred is in the Lord’s presence as we
directed them to Colonia Francisco
rural areas. His vision for outreach
wait to be reunited by the resurrecMorazán, a housing development on
was why he took me to a village,
tion power of Jesus.
Managua’s west side.
without a gospel witness, some 50
Fred went door-to-door offering
kilometers from Managua. I thought, Lester Olfert (EFC Steinbach) is the
literature, Bible correspondence
“Fred, do you expect us to move here former EMC Foreign Secretary.
courses, and selling Bibles. He would to this poor dusty village?” But
return to homes showing interest,
that was where God led us.
often with Doris, for Bible studies.
The foundation which
This is how the first congregation
Fred and Doris Friesen laid
started in the home of Juan and
resulted in a strong national
Argentina Reyes.
church known as the Fraternity
Later, they warmly welcomed
of Evangelical Mennonite
Darlene, I, and our boys into their
Churches of Nicaragua. To God
two-bedroom home until we found
be the glory!
our place. They were great mentors.
He was a devoted husband
Their love for Nicaraguan people,
and father. He was a people perculture, foods and scenic country
son. Honesty and integrity were
gave us a foundation for fruitful
important. Fred’s humour kept
ministry.
staff meetings from getting
Fred believed in seeking God’s
boring or eased tension.
wisdom and power for effective minAfter his service within the
istry. He made the gospel practical,
EMC, Fred taught missions at
Fred Friesen (1973) points to Nicaragua on a map.
ministering to people’s emotional
Mountain View Bible College
with our churches
Teaching VBS in Grand
Rapids is important!
deeply affected by changing water
levels that did away with traditional
pursuits such as fishing and trapping. While Hydro promised big
pay-outs (jobs and the like), this was
HEARTLAND COMMUNITY
turn to gambling, drugs and alcohol
very short-lived and much of it, it is
CHURCH, Landmark, Manitoba
to kill time and boredom.
said, never happened.
Pastor Fred Neff says hard drugs
Another chapter in Canada’s past
hy is it important that
(cocaine and the like) have made a
that affected First Nations, and GR,
our churches keep having
huge inroad into the town over the
is the residential school system run
input into Grand Rapids? Some
past few years and gambling outlets
by the government in partnership
background information on this
are readily available. Meagre family
with mainline churches. While
community located about 250 miles
income can go there, leaving less for
sexual abuse is well-documented and
north of Winnipeg might help us to
wholesome meals and home investhas received the most press, it is the
understand why a Christian presence ment and improvement.
idea of total assimilation of Indian
is needed.
culture lying behind
Grand Rapids
the system that is
is situated where
also abhorrent.
the Saskatchewan
This infringement
River flows into Lake
on First Nations
Winnipeg. About 1,200
people and their way
people of mostly Cree
of life eroded reladescent make their
tionships between
home here—the river
Indian and white,
forms the boundary
and affects the way
between area occupied
Natives view the
by treaty Indians on
“Whiteman’s God”
one bank and nonand those who bring
treaty natives on the
the message.
other.
This affects the
Over a knoll
work of the Neffs who
removed from the rest
see few people attend
of the town is an area
their weekly worship
occupied by governservices and Bible
ment employees, most
studies. There seems
Matt Frischbutter constantly had a group of kids around him during break.
of whom are white and
to be only a small
work for Manitoba Hydro.
Thus, houses are unpainted with
band of faithful believers.
This is where Fred and Stella
sagging doors and broken windows,
Of course, at present, they have
Neff pastor a Bible chapel under
a metaphor for broken lives and
no church building since the old
Continental Mission and the EM
dysfunctional families.
one was condemned two years ago.
Conference.
Although it’s not the whole story,
There is a fund with our conference
It might seem serene, but as in
the endemic problems can partially
designated for another church buildmany northern communities, there
be blamed on two past upheavals.
ing, but it isn’t off the ground yet.
are many underlying problems.
One is the construction and
But, of course, we come with a
Solutions are not easy.
operation of the GR Generating
message of hope. Stay tuned for Part
GR is isolated from other major
Station (hydro dam), which went
Two.
centres with a poor economic base,
into full operation in 1968. There is
Doris Penner
which is characteristic of many
no doubt members of First Nations—
reserve communities. There is high
not only in GR, but also in Moose
unemployment so people of all ages
Lake, Cormorant and The Pas—were
PHOTO: connie plett
W
24
with our churches
New EMC church
organized!
IGLESIA CRISTIANA EMMANUEL,
Calgary, Alberta
T
he upstairs hall at the
Marborough Community Centre
in Calgary was buzzing with activity
on the evening of Sept. 19 as people
prepared to celebrate and worship
together. There was an interesting
chorus of Spanish and English
greetings accompanying warm
handshakes and embraces.
The occasion was the chartering
service for our newest EMC church
plant, Iglesia Cristiana Emmanuel
(Emmanuel Christian Church).
Pastor Antonio Pitta and his
wife Esther were received as the
first charter members and, in turn,
received 21 more men women and
young people as charter members at
Emmanuel.
After each committed themselves
to membership, they received
specially prepared certificates. A
cheer rang out at the conclusion of
the ceremony.
Visitors from regional churches
brought greetings, and Pastor
David Funk of Abbeydale Christian
Fellowship offered a prayer of dedication for Emmanuel. Following the
service, in true Latin style, a meal of
tacos and tamales was enjoyed.
Ward Parkinson
PHOTO: ward parkinson
Twenty-three people
were received as
members of Iglesia
Cristiana Emmanuel.
IGLESIA CRISTIANA EMMANUEL,
Calgary, Alberta
E
l 19 septiembre la sala del segundo pizo en al Marlborough
Community Centre en Calgary
zumbaba con actividades en preparación para celebrar y alabar a Dios
juntos. Había un coro interesante
de saludos en español y en inglés
acompañados con apretones de mano
y abrazos.
La ocasión era un servicio para
los socios fundadores de la más
nueva iglesia EMC fundada, Iglesia
Cristiana Emmanuel (Emmanuel
Christian Church).
El Pastor Antonio Pitte y su
esposa Esther fueron recibidos como
los primeros socios fundadores y
después, recibieron otros 21 comos
socios fundadores, hombres, mujeres
y jóvenes.
Después de comprometerse a
la membresía, ellos recibieron un
certificado especialmente preparado.
Al concluir la ceremonía so oyó un
grito de alegría.
Visitantes de otras iglesias dieron
sus saludos, y el Pastor David Funk
PHOTO: ward parkinson
¡Una nueva Iglesia EMC
organizado!
Pastor David Funk y Pastor Antonio Pitta
de Abbeydale Christian Fellowship
hizo una oración de dedicación por
Emmanuel. Después del servicio, en
verdadero estilo latino, disfrutaron
una comida de tacos y tamales.
Ward Parkinson
Trasladado por Cathy Thiessen.
25
with our churches
WYMARK EMC, Saskatchewan
A
ugust 29, 2010, was a day of
rain just like many others that
we have experienced this summer.
However, there was a celebration of
baptism that lifted everyone’s spirits
and encouraged our church family.
The worship service began
indoors and included testimonials
Baptised were Lucas Wall (tall with red shirt), (front)
Dakota Ratzlaff, Joseph Dabrowski and Jaedon
Little. Pastor Paul Little (right) stands with them.
by four baptismal
candidates.
Lucas Wall is the son
of Kirk and Lynette Wall.
Joseph Dabrowski
is the son of Mark and
Emma Dabrowski. This
family just departed
Baptism by immersion at Wymark EMC.
from Canada for the
mission field in Papua New Guinea
occasion that affected everyone who
in September 2010. Joseph expressed
was present.
a desire to be baptised before his
There is no doubt that these four
family left Canada.
young men will have a great impact
Dakota Ratzlaff is the son of
on the world for God and for good.
Esther and Graham Ratzlaff.
After the baptisms, everyone
Jaedon Little is the son of our
returned to the Sunday School
pastor Paul and his wife Amy.
auditorium for a time of refreshment
The baptismal tank was set up on and fellowship. In the Wymark EMC,
the lawn west of the church building. faspa (a light meal) and fellowship
After the morning worship service
are famous here in Saskatchewan.
the congregation went out into the
“But thanks be to God who gives
pouring rain to witness baptism by
us the victory through our Lord Jesus
immersion. It was an impressive
Christ” (1 Corinthians 15:57).
Marvin Allan
PHOTOS: marvin allan
Baptism at Wymark
PORTAGE EVANGELICAL
CHURCH, Manitoba
T
he 50th anniversary and dedication celebration for Portage
Evangelical Church was held on
August 28 and 29, 2010.
On Saturday registration was
from 1 to 3 p.m., with children’s activities from 2 to 4.
There was a tour of the old
location at 3:30, supper at 5,
and an evening service at 7.
The Saturday service was
a time of reflection, with the
church’s history provided by
Glenn Sawatsky, Dave
Sawatsky and Larry Dyck.
We were blessed to
hear different special
numbers by previous
members in songs and
skits. The mass choir
performed and children’s
features were by Debbie
Iverson.
Mary Sholdak and Annie Enns visit during the festivities.
26
Pastor Les Kroeker leads some
children’s activities.
On Sunday morning there was
another service with an attendance
of 241. The mass choir sang, there
was a children’s feature, and a
message was given by Pastor Glenn
Loewen.
In the Sunday afternoon there
was a dedication service with sharing
by previous pastors and a devotional
and dedication led by former pastor
(continued p. 27)
PHOTOS: catherine epp
PEC celebrates 50 years
with our churches
John Dyck. Throughout the weekend
a slideshow was played repeatedly,
starting at the digging of the ground
for the first building.
We are truly blessed in
how God has led us in
the past 50 years.
In PEC’s history, the pastors from
beginning to present were: Dave
Schellenberg (with the Lord), John
Dyck, Gladwin Plett, Cecil Nelson
(with the Lord), Ken Zacharias,
Otto Hamm, Karl Goertzen, LeRoy
Barkman and Glenn Loewen. PEC
has had four youth pastors: Les
Kroeker (who was the first one and
later returned to be the current one),
Paul Nikkel, Dan Brazeau, and Don
Boddy.
As in the Old Testament, God
reminds us to remember how He has
faithfully led and blessed His people.
We are truly blessed in how God has
led us in the past 50 years.
We as a congregation look
forward to what God has in store for
us in the next 50 years.
Catherine Epp
Portage pastors (clockwise,
from top left): Paul Nikkel,
LeRoy and Marcella Barkman,
Ken Zacharias, John Dyck
and Glenn Loewen, Karl and
Grace Goertzen.
Stan Millar busy at Sioux Valley!
RESERVE FELLOWSHIP
CHAPEL, Sioux Valley,
Manitoba
W
e travel to Sioux Valley for
Sunday morning service
very often to give support, especially with the music and singing.
We are happy to say that Stan
Millar is giving so much time and
effort into the work at the church.
Flo Friesen honoured
KLEEFELD EMC, Manitoba
A
special service of thanksgiving
and praise was held Sunday,
October 10, at the Kleefeld EMC. A
committee, under the leadership of
Ken Zacharias, planned the service
in recognition of Flo Friesen, who
has spent 30-plus years in the Lord’s
service. A special worship team led
the congregation in singing; and
we were also blessed by the songs
of Danny Plett, on furlough from
Germany.
Flo grew up in Kleefeld church
and shares associate membership
with St. Vital EMC. Her career began
in the 70s when she left for Shell,
Ecuador, under HCJB to teach kids at
the Nate Saint Memorial School.
Flo’s years of teaching in
Shell hold a special place in her
heart, even as she has gone on to
serve in other parts of the world.
Interestingly, some students from
Ecuador have crossed her path as
they also have chosen to serve the
Lord in Central Asia, where she
He picks up folk for the
services. He does visitation and
interacts with the band members
there about projects he is interested in doing, which are for the
sake of the Gospel.
Stan has a heart and compassion for the people on the reserve.
Jake and Helen Martens
has focused her service for the past
while.
Leaving Shell because of health
reasons was difficult, but the time
spent at home was not wasted, being
spent in praying, studying and
teaching.
As her health and energy returned, she was aware that she had
been called to serve the Lord, not
necessarily in Ecuador. The Lord
focused her attention on a country in
Central Asia, placing a burden on her
heart for Muslims.
When she began to teach English
(continued p. 28)
27
with our churches
warriors and assisting in reaching
taking a break before serving the
there at the university, she was aware Lord in other ways.
out. Marion spoke glowingly about
of only one or two Christians. Before
the work Flo has been doing, emphaDennis Friesen, Flo’s younger
she was required to leave, there
sizing she is a remarkable woman of
brother, spoke about the inspiration
was a group of faithful Christians.
courage and prayer.
she was to him and other people.
Despite persecution, it has increased Since their mother’s death in 1960,
dramatically.
About 14 years
It was brought out repeatedly that Flo is a woman of courage,
ago, Flo returned
to serve the Lord in
inspiration, a forerunner, and a woman of faith and prayer.
Central Asia. She has
a special heart for
women and children at risk, and has
Flo has been a rock in the family,
touched many lives by organizing
After the service, the congregasharing each one’s joys and trials.
and speaking at conferences, visiting Dennis reiterated that Flo can take
tion was invited to remain for a
orphanages, and reaching out to
Thanksgiving lunch. The delicious
her place among the most respected
needy souls.
turkey, ham, baked potatoes and
pioneers in EMC leadership.
At the Recognition Service, it
For the past several years, Flo has homemade pies, as well as the fellowwas brought out repeatedly that Flo
been blessed with travel companions ship, brought a wonderful close to
is a woman of courage, inspiration,
the special morning of recognition of
Marion Warkentin and Wilma
a forerunner, and a woman of faith
one of our beloved leaders.
Barkman. They have accompanied
and prayer. It was smilingly stated
Louella Friesen
her on about half a dozen trips
that Flo was not “really retiring,” just to Central Asia, serving as prayer
A
lthough Grace Community
Church has not added any
numbers to membership or baptised
any people, it has grown
both spiritually and
numerically. Several
new families are regular
attenders.
Our Thursday
evening prayer meetings
continue to be the force
behind the church’s
growth. We seem to
becoming community
with a heart for people.
Our theme for the
year was Renewing the
28
Mind. The focus was on encouraging people and feeding people with
God’s Word so that they would have
a better base for faith and the missional nature which we emphasize so
strongly.
(continued p. 29)
PHOTO: annie bergen
GRACE COMMUNITY CHURCH,
Aylmer, Ontario
This has been a great year for
working in the community and
reaching out. In an unusual act of
unity, Grace Community reached
out to an elderly Anglican congregation and together put on VBS
for 42 kids from the surrounding
neighbourhood.
In the same way Grace
PHOTO: jake bergen
Emphasizing our
missional nature
PHOTO: emc files
Community took their thanksgiving
celebration meal to a Pentecostal
church in London to share the meal
with the tenants from the apartments that Pastor Randy manages
and the local church.
Working together with other
churches was not an intentional
goal, but it seems that opportunity
and need together with the nudging
and prodding of the Holy Spirit have
edged Grace Community into this
arena.
The church struggled this year
with its identity apart from a building. We looked at many building
opportunities with the vision of
pursuing a ministry outreach format
without owning a sanctuary. Several
opportunities came up that would
have strained our cash flow
and moved our focus from
missionality to building
centredness.
The opportunity forced us
to look deeper at our vision
and goals. We determined to
continue renting the Legion
for our Sunday morning
needs and to rent other space
for an office and to run our
programs.
It was good to come to this
conclusion. We still have money for
reaching out.
The conference has helped in
amazing ways. Together with them,
Region 9, and the conference we put
on a great convention at Leamington.
Dr. David Shenk’s talks were both
inspirational and transformational.
PHOTO: annie bergen
with our churches
The conference also sent the pastor couple to the church planting
congress in Calgary from which the
church emerged with new tools to
use as we become a strong influence
for Jesus in the local community. The
encouragement and support given
has been good.
Pastor Randy Fehr
news
MCC food account at lowest level in years
People are unbelievably generous, though fund needs replenishing
WINNIPEG, Man— MCC’s food account at the Canadian
Donations typically come from individuals, congregaFoodgrains Bank (CFGB) is at its lowest level in years,
tions, companies and foundations. Although urban donadrained by the many food projects MCC has supported over
tions are growing, the farming community remains the
the past year.
financial backbone.
The low equity, however, is good news: thousands of peo“The generosity of farming communities is amazing,”
ple are benefiting from Canadians’ contributions, explains
said Manitoba farmer Harold Penner, a regional coordinator
MCC’s Willie Reimer.
for CFGB. “Even if we have tough times we know that the
“Our account at CFGB is well supported. People are unpeople we are helping have a tougher time than we have.”
believably generous,” he said.
In 2009/2010 donations to
However, he is anxious about
CFGB-supported projects reached
At the beginning of 2010 MCC had
surging global food prices. “When
$10.5 million with 40 per cent comthe prices of food and food coming from grain donations.
$1.5 million in equity at the CFGB,
modities go up, our money does not
These funds, with CIDA’s matchbut that amount dropped to about
go as far,” he explained. “We would
ing funds, made it possible for CFGB
like to replenish our account so that
and its 15 member agencies to sup$140,000 in early October.
we have more funds for unexpected
port 96 projects to help two million
emergencies.”
people in 32 countries this past year.
At the beginning of 2010 MCC had $1.5 million in equity
Donations of cash, grains, and other proceeds are
at the CFGB, but that amount dropped to about $140,000 in
welcomed.
early October.
MCC
29
news
Cruise ship passengers visit MEDA project in Ukraine
German Mennonite concern seen as an act of forgiveness
Passengers from the Mennonite Heritage Cruise took time
out from exploring historic sites in Ukraine to see a current
initiative helping local farmers, some of whom till land once
owned by Mennonites.
In early October 2010 the passengers visited clients of
the Ukraine Horticultural Development Project (UHDP)
being carried out by Mennonite Economic Development
Associates (MEDA).
titled “Paradox and Irony in the Russian Mennonite Story,”
ends with “Irony of Rebirth” how Mennonites have returned
to Ukraine in various roles.
“Toews points out that 20 years ago everyone thought the
Mennonite story in Ukraine was dead, gone forever, but not
so, remarkably not so,” says Unger. “The recent MEDA initiative graphically shows how Mennonites care about their
former neighbours.”
MEDA
The five-year $10 million project, supported by the
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), aims
to help 5,000 smallholder farmers create successful ventures
on former collectivized farms.
Since 1995 the annual cruise has given more than 3,000
visitors a chance to travel the Dnieper River and immerse
themselves in the history of German Mennonites who developed major settlements in Ukraine and Crimea from 1789
until after the Bolshevik Revolution in the early 20th century.
Recently, cruise organizers included special visits to
local service efforts supported by Mennonites. For local
Ukrainians, the assistance of MEDA and other Mennonite
groups is seen as an act of forgiveness and reconciliation,
given that many Mennonites were driven out of the area following the Bolshevik Revolution.
A focal point for today’s Mennonite presence in ancestral
regions is the Mennonite Centre in Molochansk (formerly
called Halbstadt), housed in a refurbished Mennonite girls’
school.
It grew out of the vision of people who visited the area
following Ukraine’s independence in the early 1990s and
were concerned about the poverty they saw, explains George
Dyck of Vineland, Ont., a Centre official.
The Centre provides medical assistance to impoverished
pensioners and the handicapped, educational and youth
outreach, and informational services about the region and
its Mennonite past.
Dyck developed a “Mennonite Return and Outreach”
theme for the cruise itinerary so passengers could see the
work and institutions served by the Centre and related
Mennonite initiatives.
Walter Unger of Toronto, the cruise organizer, notes that
the return and outreach theme derives from a shipboard
lecture by historian Paul Toews of Fresno, Calif. The lecture,
30
Photo: Vyachaslav Obozinski
The Mennonite Centre in Molochansk grew out of
the vision of people who visited the area in the early
1990s and were concerned about the poverty they
saw, explains George Dyck, a Centre official.
Passengers visit the greenhouse farm of MEDA client Roman Pospelovsky.
Strangely and sadly, this was a widely-held belief
among iPod touches.
shoulder tapping
Pastoral positions
Community Bible Fellowship Church of Swan
River, Man., is currently seeking a pastoral couple on either an interim basis (with negotiable
hours) or, depending on circumstances, a fulltime, permanent basis to serve a congregation of
about 75 on a Sunday morning in a community
of about 3,500.
Responsibilities could include preaching,
counseling, participation in team ministries,
visitation, evangelistic outreach to community,
direction setting in conjunction with Elder Team.
Our desire: a couple with passion for the Lord
and his work, a desire to explore God’s unlimited
potential through CBF, and administrative skills.
CFB oversees a small Christian school (about
35 students) on the premises. Our previous
pastor was involved in the lives of students and
staff, and we really appreciated his daily school
involvement.
If you have an appetite for the outdoors and
a longing to serve in a smaller community, we are
a friendly community with much potential for
church growth. We are ultimately looking for a
permanent pastor. Open communication will be
encouraged from an applicant to ensure intentions and expectations are clearly understood.
Please contact: Terry Scales (204-525-2651),
Jake Reimer (204-734-4465), or Don Buhler
(204-734-2403).
Fort Garry Evangelical Mennonite Church (fortgarryemc.ca) is searching for a university/young
adult pastor whom God has chosen to help us
reach University of Manitoba students and young
adults with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We are a
congregation of 250 located a block from the U.
of M. Fort Garry campus.
Supported by a committed discernment
group, this person will get to know the Fort Garry
campus and establish relationships with present
campus ministries. By creating relationships with
individuals, the pastor will support the development of their faith by connecting them to people
at FGEMC. A second phase may include program
development.
Applicants must be able to embrace and
sign the FGEMC Statement of Faith. Qualifications
include a love for people, enthusiasm and
determination, creativity and an ability to
work independently. A graduate degree and
ministry experience on campus are assets.
Inquiries and resumes may be sent to Mark Plett,
Search Committee chair, Fort Garry EMC, 602
Pasadena Ave, Winnipeg, MB R3T 2S9 or e-mailed
msplett5@shaw.ca.
High Level Christian Fellowship is searching for
a full-time pastor. We are a congregation of
approximately 150 people located in northern
Alberta. For more information contact: Pete Fehr
at 780-926-6671 or email at pete@gbc2002ltd.
net.
Youth work
Rosenort Fellowship Chapel is seeking to fill
a full-time position of youth pastor. We are a
congregation of approximately 150 attendees
located in Rosenort, Man. The position would
require successful applicant to lead both senior
and junior youth programs. We would like to see
some youth involvement in morning services
with possible pulpit opportunities. A recently
remodeled youth room in the church is used for
their weekly event.
We are looking for a person/couple with a
passion for God’s word and a heart for our youth.
They are to be approachable, accountable, supportive, missional to create real relationships
with the youth and disciple them. Starting date
is negotiable. If interested please contact Ryan
Friesen at 204-746-6345 or ryan@gninc.ca.
Rosenort EMC has a full-time youth pastor position to begin immediately. REMC is a rural church
of approximately 300 members with regular
attendance of 250 people. Rosenort is situated
in southern Manitoba with agribusiness as the
main industry. Our church is a multi-generational
church with strong family ties.
We are looking for a youth pastor to work
with both junior youth (Grades 7–9) and senior
youth (Grades 10–12). The successful candidate
must have a deep desire to encourage our youth
to grow deeper in their relationship with Jesus
Christ; be committed to developing a mission
vision within our youth; provide opportunity for
leadership development for our youth; select,
train, and work with youth sponsors from within
the church family.
To submit a letter of application or request
information, contact Arlin Scharfenberg, ascharfenberg@xplornet.ca, 204-746-6154, Box 106, RR
1, Morris, MB R0G 1K0.
Mennville EMC and Riverton Gospel Chapel,
both EMC churches within Manitoba’s Interlake
region, seek a youth leader for a full-time position to lead a joint youth group started in fall
2009. Through their work, the youth leader(s)
will develop strong relationships with our
youth and contribute to a bridge between our
congregations.
Skills: administration, well-balanced program planning, ability to draw youth into Sunday
morning participation, confidence to challenge
or mentor behaviour, approachable and accountable, capable of working within boundaries, an
ability to build mentoring relationships.
Some Sunday morning involvement is
desirable at each church, but we recognize the
need to develop a home church relationship.
The ideal candidate would be a married couple
with a heart for youth ministry. Consideration
will be given to single applicants, dependant on
qualifications. Salary structure is flexible as either
a single or split salary, depending on the applicant’s preference.
If interested, contact Paul Peters at 204-3782740 or paulhecla@yahoo.com.
Crestview Fellowship is a small EMC church on the
west side of Winnipeg, Man., that is actively seeking out a half-time youth position. Crestview is
about 65-70 people with a small number of youth
aged kids, but many younger children coming
up. Our focus has also been to the community
surrounding the church.
The successful applicant will be an actively
growing follower of Christ who lives out their
faith in action and word, possesses a servant
heart for youth ministry, and is passionate about
reaching young people in the church and surrounding community for Christ. Please contact
the church office at 204-837-9490, cfcemc@mts.
net, or 271 Hamilton Ave. Winnipeg, MB R2Y 0H3.
Arborg Youth For Christ seeks a program coordinator. Position includes planning, implementing,
and supervising youth activities for community
youth, using the Arborg, Man., youth centre as
the hub for these programs.
The program coordinator would be involved
in developing effective programs in partnership
with the director, utilizing a team of volunteers,
as well as developing one-on-one relationships
with youth in the community by being involved
at the local high school and at the Drop In.
For information, contact director.arborgyfc@hotmail.com or call Carissa Rempel at
204-376-5686.
Other opportunities
Initiatives for Just Communities (IJC) is an agency
being formed by MCC Manitoba to carry forward
its restorative justice programs. IJC is seeking
an executive director whose leadership and
lifestyle reflects the Christian purpose and values of the organisation. This is a .5 FTE position.
Application deadline is October 29, 2010. Please
submit a letter of intent and resume to Janelle
Siemens at jms@mennonitecc.ca. Consult the
MCC Manitoba website at manitoba.mcc.org for a
full job description, IJC purpose and values statement and contact information.
Inner City Youth Alive in Winnipeg’s North End is
looking for individuals to fill the following three
key roles: camp program coordinator, to work
at Gem Lake Wilderness Camp in the summer
and involvement in city programs during the
winter; children’s outreach coordinator, looks
after the mentoring and discipleship of local
North End children aged five to 12 through a combination of running the drop-in center and active
one-on-one mentoring; race club coordinator,
teaches youth skills in welding, body and enginework as well as participation in local motorsport
events with the youth. For information, contact
James Driedger at ICYA 204-582-8779 ext: 205 or
email james@icya.ca.
The Messenger does not sell advertising, but provides free space (classified and display) to enhance our
Conference, its churches, boards
and ministries; inter-Mennonite
agencies and educational institutions; and the wider church. Ads
are not to be for monetary benefit.
To place an ad, e-mail messenger@
emconf.ca or call 204-326-6401 and
ask for Rebecca Roman.
31
in memory
Mary (Wolfe) Rempel
1925–2010
Mary (Wolfe) Rempel, aged 85, of
Swift Current, Sask., and formerly a resident of Wymark, Sask., peacefully passed
away at sunrise on Easter morning, April
4, 2010, at the Cypress Regional Hospital
after a very short illness.
She was born to Cornelius
and Katherine Wiebe at a farm in
Springfeldt, Sask., on January 4, 1925.
She attended Amphion School and was
very active in sports and drama.
Mom was baptised before her
marriage to Dad, Jake Wolfe. They were
married on April 7, 1947. They were
married for 49 years and had a family
of seven. Jake passed away on July 2,
1992. She was later remarried to George
Rempel on January 22, 1995.
Mom is survived by her seven children, Eileen (John) Koethler, Edna (Alvin)
Rempel, Ray Wolfe, Alan (Pat) Wolfe,
Tim Wolfe, Janet (Ernest) Fehr, and Tony
Wolfe (Rhonda), and three stepchildren,
Elaine (Peter) Dyck, Alvin (Edna) Rempel,
and Tim (Maureen) Rempel.
She is also survived by her grandchildren: Trevor (April) Ketler, Cory
(Wendy) Koethler, Tracy (Blair) Philp,
Steven Rempel, Greg (Amber) Rempel,
Derek (Marissa) Wolfe, Tyler Wolfe, Jay
(Jill) Wolfe, Zach (Tanja) Wolfe, Keegan
Wolfe, Donavan Fehr, Kaitlyn (Derek)
Neustaeter, Megan Wolfe, Ashlyn
Wolfe, Bonnie (Mark) Sullivan, Marlon
(Amanda) Dyck, Sheldon (Janice) Dyck,
Keagan Rempel, Haleigh Rempel, and
Jordan Rempel.
She is also survived by 20 greatgrandchildren: Mitch and Reese Ketler;
Jesse, Jaxxon, Jagger Koethler; Zander,
Hollyn and Elliot Rempel; Dolan Wolfe;
Sara, Emma, and Jayla Wolfe; Zerek
Wolfe; Donovan, Kelsi, and Mark
Sullivan; Kelton and Hayden Dyck;
Matthew and Mya Dyck.
32
Mom is also survived by her sisters
Tina (John) Martens, Susan (John)
Klassen, Anne Schlamp, Betty (Ike
Giesbrecht); her brothers John (Mary)
Wiebe, and Corny (Mary) Wiebe; and
many nieces and nephews.
She also leaves to mourn her Rempel
in-laws: Lena Funk, Bill and Margaret
Hildebrandt, Frank and Helen Rempel, Jake
and Katie Dyck, Ann Bartsch, and Helen
Rempel; and many nieces and nephews.
Mom was predeceased by her
husband Jake Wolfe on July 2, 1992, and
her second husband George Rempel on
January 30, 2007. She was also predeceased by her parents Cornelius and
Katherine Wiebe, her sister and brotherin-law Helen and Jake Olfert, her brother
Larry Wiebe, three nephews, a niece,
and several brothers- and sisters-in-law
in both the Wolfe and Rempel families.
Her hands were never idle. She
enjoyed gardening (especially flower
gardens), crocheting, sewing, knitting,
quilting, scrap booking, family history,
Ramona Darlene (Petkau) Reimer
1983–2009
It was with deep sadness that we said
good-bye to Ramona almost a year ago.
But it is with true joy that we celebrate
her life. On November 27, 2009, at the
age of 26, Ramona went to be with Jesus.
Ramona was born on October 31,
1983, in Arborg, Man. She was always a
hard worker, and particularly loved gardening, canning, or anything outdoorsy.
As the oldest child, she took leadership among her siblings, always finding
ways to convince them to join in on
whatever activity was on the agenda.
Ramona attended the Morweena
Christian School from 1989 to 2002.
She threw herself wholeheartedly into
everything that came her way, from floor
hockey to biology, music to math.
bowling, coffee socials, word puzzles,
and bird watching.
She loved to spend time with her
children and grandchildren, making
each one feel loved and special. In the
evenings Mom could always be found
listening to Christian programming on
the radio.
Mom was a woman of great faith.
Together with her husband Jake they
became founding members of the
Evangelical Mennonite Church in
Wymark in 1958.
She was a member of Cornerstone
Fellowship Church (Swift Current) and
attended regularly in her last years. Her
faith and love of God was evident in the
way she faithfully prayed everyday for
ones she cared for, and her Bible was
worn from her daily devotions.
The funeral service was conducted
at Cornerstone Fellowship Church on
Friday, April 9, 2010, at 2 p.m. by Pastor
Brian Bezanson.
Her Family
Ramona’s passion for life was coupled
with a deep compassion for those who
were hurting or disadvantaged. After
graduating from high school, Ramona
trained as a health care aide at Red River
College and worked in hospitals and
personal care homes.
But Ramona wanted to take her
compassion farther. She loved children
and dreamed of working at an orphanage
in Africa. From January to March 2005,
Ramona got a taste of her dream, volunteering at God’s Littlest Angels in Haiti.
On December 3, 2005, Ramona
married Earl Reimer, the love of her life.
They jumped into teaching together at
Hodgson Christian Academy in January.
All the while, though, they were
making plans to set out on missions as
soon as possible, little knowing that the
ministry in store for them was much different than the one they were planning
for themselves.
That summer, while they were working as assistant directors at Beaver Creek
Bible Camp, Ramona was diagnosed
with sarcoma, a fast-growing soft tissue
cancer.
The next three and a half years were
a blur of hospitals, hotels, homes, and
airports as Ramona and Earl navigated
countless rounds of chemotherapy,
radiation, and surgery. The journey,
in memory
however, was far more than physical.
The cancer only served as a catalyst
for Ramona’s passion and strength as she
fought courageously from beginning to
end against the sarcoma in her body and
the emotional and spiritual challenges
that came with it.
The years of struggle produced in
her an incredibly deep relationship with
Jesus. At the very end, she could honestly say, “God is good, and Christianity
is deeper and better than I could ever
have imagined.”
Ramona’s strong faith has been an
encouragement and challenge to all who
have encountered her, who visited her in
Fred Friesen
1937–2010
Fred Friesen, of Didsbury, Alta.,
beloved husband of Doris, was released
from his earthly body to be with his
Saviour on September 22, 2010, after
a short battle with very aggressive
anaplastic thyroid cancer diagnosed in
early August.
Fred was born on May 28, 1937, the
fifth child born to David and Catherine
Friesen of Rosenort, Man.
He gave his heart to Jesus at the age
of 14 during a revival that swept through
Rosenort. At age 18, while plowing in
his father’s field, he felt God speaking
to him very strongly that he should be
a missionary. He stopped the tractor,
knelt down in that furrowed field, and
dedicated himself to go wherever God
would call him.
He married Doris Brandt in 1960.
After studying at Steinbach Bible College
and Language Training at Rio Grande
Bible Institute, Texas, they set out on a
journey to serve God together as pioneer
missionaries with the EMC in Mexico
and Nicaragua (1966-74).
These years were full of trials, joys,
person and on the blog.
Even in the midst of pain and
exhaustion, she continued to show care
and consideration for those around her,
asking how they were doing and trying
to make sure their needs were met.
Although she never would have
chosen this road, Ramona’s journey
through cancer brought her closer to
Jesus, and it has finally delivered her
right into his arms.
Even though we miss her now, we
know that she is rejoicing in Heaven in a
new, complete body, and we look forward
to seeing her again.
Her Family
and adventures, and formed the basis of
his subsequent ministries and outlook
on life. Forced to return to Canada in
1974 for medical reasons, he pastored his
hometown church, Rosenort Fellowship
Chapel, for five years.
Feeling the call to train young
people, he obtained a master’s degree
in missiology and moved his family to
Didsbury, Alta., in 1981, where he taught
missions and cross-cultural studies at
Mountain View Bible College. In 1992
they moved to Calgary where Fred
continued teaching at Rocky Mountain
College.
A debilitating stroke in 1999 forced
his retirement after 18 years of teaching.
The college honoured him with the title
Professor Emeritus in 2000.
After a move back to Didsbury,
he showed great courage and tenacity
in battling back from his stroke. He
remained involved in missions and in
mentoring young men in his church
family.
Fred and Doris celebrated their 50th
wedding anniversary four weeks before
he passed away at Chinook Hospice in
Calgary.
Fred is remembered for his wisdom,
his warm personality, his integrity,
his great sense of humour, his sense
of adventure, and his genuine care for
others.
He will be greatly missed by his loving wife Doris, daughter Kathleen (Bruce
Archer) of Beaumont, Alta., and grandchildren Jeffrey, Amanda and Bethany;
daughter Patricia (John Pritchard) of
Calgary, Alta., and grandchildren Joshua
(Jennifer and great grandson Ezra),
Jordon, and Alana; son David (Leslie)
calendar
British Columbia
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Alberta
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Saskatchewan
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Manitoba
Nov. 12–14: EM Cup Hockey
Tournament, T. G. Smith Centre,
Steinbach.
Nov. 22: EMC Project Builders Annual
Meeting, Heartland Community
Church, 333 Main St, Landmark,
Presenter: Arley Loewen. Reports and
discussion of 2011 projects. All are
welcome.
Nov. 27: EMC Conference Council
meeting, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. (registration at
8:30 a.m.), Steinbach EMC, 422 Main
St, Steinbach, info@emconf.ca, www.
emconference.ca.
Nov. 27–29: Rest and Renewal,
EMC Ministerial Retreat; for current
and former pastors, associates,
missionaries, elders, deacons, and
spouses; Wilderness Edge, Pinawa;
wparkinson@emconf.ca; www.
emconference.ca.
Ontario
Nov. 12: MCC Ontario youth event,
Aylmer, 519-765-3020, ontario.mcc.org
Nov. 13: MCC Ontario conference,
Sommerfeld Mennonite Church,
Aylmer, 519-745-8458 or 519-765-3020
Nov. 13: Fundraising Supper, MCC
and Mennonite Community Services,
Stories of Welcome, East Elgin
Community Complex, Aylmer, 519-7458458 or 519-765-3020
of Calgary, Alta., and grandchildren
Madeline, Nathan, Sally and Ella; son
James (Jennifer) of Noblesville, Indiana,
and grandchildren Kayleigh, Andrew
and Gracie.
A Celebration of Life was held at
Zion Evangelical Missionary Church in
Didsbury, Alta., on Monday, September
27, 2010, and Fred’s body was laid to rest
in the Didsbury Cemetery.
His Family
33
news
Central Americans hold 35th Anabaptist Consultation
SAN MARCOS, Carazo, Nicaragua—Ethics and commitment were the focus of the annual meeting of the
Consulta Anabautista Menonita Centroamericana
(CAMCA), September 8 to 10, 2010.
The 35th meeting of the theological consultation
was marked by a strong showing of women theologians, who had held their own prior gathering.
In all, 18 men and 36 women participated—most
of whom serve in Bible teaching or leadership capacities in Mennonite and Brethren in Christ churches in
Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras, Guatemala, Belize
and Panama.
Keynote speaker Silvia Regina de Lima Silva of Participants in the CAMCA meeting.
Costa Rica reflected on “Conversion and Discipleship:
conversion as a continuous proAn urgent call to the faith community to live the ethics
The
conference
stressed
cess in life. We must revitalize
of the Kingdom.”
our faith community by means
From their Bible reading, prayer, and Scripture the kingdom of God as a
of the study and the practice the
analysis, participants were challenged to revisit their
Gospel of Jesus.
conversion as they sought “new alternatives to project present reality, not only
“We must use the spaces God
the kingdom of God.” As their summary report re- an event in the future.
is
opening
to us in our society
minded them, conversion is only a starting point.
to
become
leaven and mustard
“We will overcome only by following the model of
seed. As a church and as individuals we must be vigilant
Jesus, who rose above temptation by abiding in God’s Word...
against the temptation of seeking power and recognition.”
in daily practice,” the report said.
During the gathering the maturing of the participant
The conference stressed the kingdom of God as a present
churches was highlighted. This year the Mennonite Church
reality, not only an event in the future: “We believers should
of Honduras celebrated its 60th anniversary, and Mennonite
create conditions for it to be perceived, seen and felt in our
Church
in Panama celebrated its 50th. The Costa Rican
communities.”
Mennonite Church marks its 50th in 2011.
CAMCA participants formed a declaration of comMWC
mitment: “As a Church we are challenged to rethink our
34
Radical Followers of Jesus DVD
births
A DVD highlighting men and women who “display
radical forgiveness, radical love and radical peace”
has been produced by the Evangelical Anabaptist
Fellowship of Canada.
The 54-minute DVD can used in worship services,
Sunday School, small groups,
or family life.
DVDs can be obtained
for $11.20 (plus shipping)
from the EMC office
(204-326-6401 or rroman@
emconf.ca) or from EAF, Box
323, Winkler, MB R6W 4A5,
Ph. 204-325-8248, E-mail
eafellowship@gmail.com.
EAF
BERG – to Henry and Susie Berg of Monarch, Alta., a daughter,
Samantha Faith, on Sept. 24, 2010.
FRIESEN – to Kyle and Laura Friesen of Steinbach, Man., a daughter,
Jenna Rose, on Sept. 10, 2010.
KEHLER – to Ken and Nicole Kehler of Steinbach, Man., a son,
Zachary Dane, on May 17, 2010.
TOEWS – to Ewald and Pam Toews of Steinbach, Man., a son, Morgan
Wade, on May 23, 2010.
weddings
PETERS – HAM: Frank, son of Henry and Maria Peters, and Nancy,
daughter of Eva Ham, were married on October 9, 2010, in the Picture
Butte Mennonite Church with Abe Bueckert of Picture Butte, Alta.,
officiating. The couple lives in Purple Springs, Alta.
stewardship today
by Kevin Davidson
Are they worth it?
L
ife insurance considers their
jobs more dangerous than
munitions workers; their
profession has the second highest
divorce rate; 1,500 of them leave their
jobs each month; work has a negative
impact on their families; if they work
less than 50 hours per week their
chances of termination increase by
35 per cent, and on and on.
Who are they? Pastors!
is selfish, and serving God means
never saying ‘no.’” Amazingly, a
recent survey reports that 87 per
cent of pastors are very satisfied in
their work compared with 47 per
cent of the rest of us.
Is there a disconnect between
our pastor’s “calling” and our (God’s
people) affirming that calling? It’s
kind of like telling someone who has
no food or clothing, “Have a great
day,” and then doing nothing about it
(James 2:15-16).
I recently asked a church board
member if he would take on the
same level of responsibility and salary as his pastor and his reply was,
“No way!”
PHOTO: designpics.com
Are we regularly and
intentionally tending to
the holistic health of
our pastors?
Do we have a subconscious expectation today that our pastors not
only be our spiritual mentor but the
church CEO as well? With advances
in technology, we want them to be
accessible to us 24/7. Besides, we
own them; we’re paying their salary!
Dr. Gwen Wagstrom Halas, a
family physician who is married to
a minister, says, “They (ministers)
think that taking care of themselves
Of course, we need to recognize a
number of factors when considering
pastors’ salaries, including congregational size (most congregations are
under 200 people) and the economic
status of the region.
But let’s not forget that not
everyone gives to their church either.
Just ask your treasurer.
My question is this: are we
regularly and intentionally tending
to the holistic health of our pastors?
Spiritual: Do we pray for our
pastors? Do we extend love and
respect to them, remembering they
are held to a higher account? (See 1
Thessalonians 5:12-13, James 3:1.)
Financial: Do we pay our
pastors generously, recognizing that
we also appreciate and expect the
same for our honest and hard day’s
work? Remember, we’re only paying
them with what God has paid us (1
Timothy 5:17-18; 1 Corinthians 9:14; 1
Chronicles 29:14).
Emotional: Do we regularly
extend affirmation and appreciation
to our pastors? (See Ephesians 4:29).
Physical/Mental: Do we encourage spontaneous time off for our
pastors to spend with God, their
spouse and family and others?
And when we encourage our
pastors, do we do it with a grateful
heart, not expecting anything in
return?
My impression of pastors is they
are no different than you and me
when it comes to living life.
They love God, they desire to
provide for their family, they relish
spending time with family and
friends, they enjoy experiencing
some of the pleasures of life as a
gift from God, and they anticipate
retirement will be a comfort and a
blessing, Lord willing.
If you’re like me, it has been very
easy to take my pastor for granted.
Please join me in showing our pastors how much we appreciate them.
Kevin Davidson is a stewardship
consultant at the Calgary, Alta., office
of Mennonite Foundation of Canada
(MFC). For stewardship education and
estate and charitable gift planning,
contact your nearest MFC office or
visit Mennofoundation.ca.
35
pictures of God
by Joanna Plett
Justified
“
I
know this doesn’t justify it,
but....” This innocent line rolls
off my tongue so easily.
“I know this doesn’t justify
what I said, but she just made me
so mad!”
“I know this doesn’t justify
what I did, but everyone else was
doing it.”
This line is often as easy to
accept as it is to say. The correct
answer is, “Yeah, they should
never have done that to you” or
something similar followed by a
discussion dividing up the guilt
between various parties in the sin.
A friend broke the mold of this
conversation a few weeks ago and
challenged me on my dealing with
sin. “Of course that doesn’t justify
what you did,” he said. “Nothing
justifies what you did; only Jesus can
justify you.”
Although this was not new
information, it hit me in a new way
and shifted my paradigm of sin,
confession and forgiveness.
Instead of spending time figuring out how to dole out as much
responsibility as possible, I was
faced with the fact that I had done
what I had done and that I would
be held accountable for it. Turning
my eyes away from other people’s
sin and looking directly at my own
was a deeply humbling, yet strangely
freeing feeling.
On one hand, I realized that no
matter how long I skirted the issue
and found ways to pass the blame,
36
As I acknowledged
my guilt, I was able to
receive forgiveness
and grace from
God. I was “made
just” in his eyes.
in the end, I had still
made the choices
I did. But on the
other hand, once I
took my eyes off of
everyone else’s sin, I
was left with the one person’s sin I
could actually deal with: my own.
It is not in replaying the crime
scene, but in this place of brokenness
that my sin can be justified. Justified:
not overlooked, but recognized and
atoned for by Jesus’ sacrifice.
As I acknowledged my guilt, I was
able to receive forgiveness and grace
from God. I was “made just” in his
eyes.
I found that as I humbled myself
before God and received his grace for
my sin, I was more ready to forgive
others. Taking responsibility for my
sin also gave me hope of a new start,
the possibility of responding differently, even if faced with the same
circumstances.
The road to forgiveness and
.com
PHOTO: istockphoto
healing is paved with grace, not
earned through victimhood, but
given to undeserving sinners
through Christ’s sacrifice. The
beauty of accepting responsibility for
my sin is that I can take it to Christ,
receive his forgiveness and start
walking anew in freedom and hope.
“Now that we know what we
have—Jesus, this great High Priest
with ready access to God—let’s not
let it slip through our fingers. We
don’t have a priest who is out of
touch with our reality. He’s been
through weakness and testing,
experienced it all—all but the sin.
So let’s walk right up to him and get
what he is so ready to give. Take the
mercy, accept the help” (Hebrews
4:14–16, The Message).
THE MESSENGER
Evangelical Mennonite Conference
440 Main Street
Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5
Publications Mail Agreement #40017362
Registration #09914

Vol. 48 No. 12 November 2010 - Evangelical Mennonite Conference

Transcription

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